Skin of the Night: Book One of The Night series

by Claire D. Bennett

  I’d been standing there for about a minute when I glimpsed Brian’s friend – the one I’d been dancing with – and his arrival was like a light at the end of the tunnel. He was just making his way out of the men’s room. Perhaps he had a better idea of where the others were currently located.

  Our eyes locked, and the smile that caught his mouth was infectious. The music was quieter here, so when he said, “Hey, there. Cara, was it?” I could actually hear him.

  I nodded and watched his approach with a friendly smile on my mouth. Once he reached me, he placed his hands against the wall on either side of my face. His action made my smile fade at once. Instead, I felt somewhat intimidated.

  “Well, then, Cara. How are you?”

  “Quite drunk,” I confessed as I gazed into his dark eyes. His brown hair was longer than that of the average male, with a side parting, and, like Will, he had symmetrical features and neatly groomed stubble.

  “Well, you’re not alone.” Smirking, he lowered his head. He drew closer and closer to my lips, but just before he reached them, I turned my head. My gut twisted with discomfort. This didn’t feel right. I didn’t want this.

  “Oh, come on, love. Just a peck. I swear you won’t regret it.” He clasped my jaw to turn my face towards him. Grabbing his shoulders, I wriggled my jaw against his grip.

  “N-no.” I tried to push him away and was just about to thrust my knee into his balls when a large and familiar hand gripped his shoulder. A moment later, Brian’s friend was ripped away from me with violent force. Upon the removal of his body, I was presented with a seething William. His eyes were ablaze as he glowered at Brian’s friend.

  “Touch her again and I swear I’ll rearrange your fucking face,” he growled and moved to stand in front of me, protective. “She’s made it abundantly clear she doesn’t want you.”

  Peeking past his strong right arm, I saw Brian’s friend leap into the crowd, clearly intimidated. William continued to glare after him for another second until he finally turned towards me. Immediately, his eyes softened.

  “Are you alright?”

  Overcome with lust, I swallowed. This wouldn’t do. I wanted him so badly.

  The waves of his hair cradled his ears, and the bigger wave above his forehead made me raise my hands to run my fingers through it. My breath hitched at the feel of it. It was exactly how I remembered – thick, but velvety soft. With wonder in my eyes, I gazed up at him, hypnotised by his male beauty. Day or night, he was a sight to behold.

  “I’m sorry we lost you,” I murmured and dragged my hands to the nape of his neck to play with the strands there. Reuniting with him made me realise that I had actually missed his company – immensely. It was amazing to be able to look into his eyes again – to admire him.

  “That’s not what I asked,” he reminded me and lowered his head somewhat. From his dilated pupils, I could tell he was intoxicated as well, and the smell of alcohol on his breath confirmed it.

  He stared into my eyes, intensely, and it made my heart wreak havoc within my chest. Merely by looking at me, he made me feel more alive than I ever had. What was this mysterious creature? What magic did he wield? Caught under his influence, I bucked my hips forward, wanting to be closer to him.

  His lips formed a brooding line as he snuck his arms around my waist to press me flat against him. “Cara, say something. Tell me you’re alright.” His voice was intolerably sensual when he used that tone. I’d never heard a voice more inviting in my life. I knew he was merely speaking to me, but I could have sworn he was singing, luring me to my doom.

  “I’m fine.” It was almost a whisper, but at least it was a reply.

  He grimaced. “I’m sorry I didn’t intervene sooner. At first, I thought…”

  “You were watching me?”

  He nodded vaguely. “I thought you wanted him at first. I saw you dancing earlier.”

  “You did?” I asked, surprised. “Why didn’t you come over?”

  “I wanted to, but… I wasn’t sure you’d appreciate it.”

  I frowned. “That didn’t stop you earlier tonight.”

  He sighed. “I know, but that wasn’t right of me. I didn’t want to repeat my mistake, so I left you alone. I have no right to interfere like that, and you looked like you were enjoying yourself.” Furrowing his brows, he averted his eyes. “Frankly, I… I gave up for a moment.”

  Had I not been so intoxicated, I would have told him he’d be wise to give up on me. However, ruled by the alcohol in my blood, no such thing occurred to me. Instead, I told him honestly, “I wouldn’t have minded if you came over, just as I didn’t mind when you came over at Disrepute earlier. On the contrary, I would have preferred it. I’ve been looking for you, but since I was supposed to spend time with Ellie tonight, I didn’t want to leave her side.”

  Fixing his gaze on me, something bright shone from his eyes, and I knew at once that he could tell I was slowly submitting to his power. “I’ll bear that in mind for next time.”

  After smiling at each other for a beat, he glanced over his shoulder. When he faced me again, he had knitted his brows. “I’ve got to say, though – I’m a bit disappointed. Of all women, I’d expect at least you to escape predators like that.”

  I chuckled. “Well, I was just about to kick him in the balls when you arrived.”

  His lips stretched into a smile. “Really?”

  I nodded.

  He looked proud. “Good. I’m almost sorry I intervened, then. A kick in the balls is what he deserves, and even that would be merciful.”

  Nodding my agreement, I looked at the crowd. I wanted to dance again, but with William – only him. Biting on my lower lip, I glanced back at him with a cheeky smile. His brows twitched faintly, revealing some bewilderment as he tried to gauge the thoughts behind my expression, but before he could ask, I pushed him away. As I strode past him, heading for the dance floor, I vaguely wondered where Andy had gone.

  “What are you doing?” William called after me, confused.

  Eyeing him over my shoulder, I offered a lascivious smile. “Escaping a predator,” I teased with a wink.

  His eyes grew darker as he stalked after me. I had barely managed to pass a few dancing bodies when he reached out to clasp my hand. Enchanting electricity bolted through my body at his touch. When he moved to entwine our fingers, I took a deep breath to steady my rising pulse.

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he declared behind me. Good. I didn’t want him to, and I let him know by squeezing his hand.

  Once we had moved far enough, I turned to face him. “Can you dance?” I asked above the music, genuinely curious.

  He chuckled. “With you, I’ll do just about anything.”

  His statement roused a blush in my cheeks, but the dim light prevented him from seeing it. When he brought his arms around my waist to pull me closer, my high colour intensified.

  I had never felt so anxious before – not over a man. Because of it, I had to swallow a lump in my throat when I circled his neck with my arms. My blood simmered in my veins. He was so fucking hot. Thankfully, the fact that he was my boss, as well as Jason’s brother, didn’t cross my drunken mind. For now, all I wanted was to submerge myself in his seeming divinity.

  Lowering his head, he paused by my ear. “Stay close,” he said and began to move along with the carnal music. With my heart in my throat, I followed his movements and felt arousal drench both my mind and my underwear. All I could think of was my intense yearning for his flesh, how much I wanted him – all of him.

  I hadn’t thought a man like William could dance, but he was indeed proving me wrong. Then again, considering his skills in the bedroom, it shouldn’t have surprised me. He practised perfect control over his body, and right now, it seemed determined to make mine come undone.

  And it was working. My hands were all over him, exploring an
d caressing.

  We’d danced for a while when he gripped my hips and whirled me around so that my back was facing him. Smoothing his hands down my arms, he didn’t stop until they covered the back of mine. There, he entwined our fingers before bringing our arms around me to form an embrace. My heart jolted when he hugged me tightly. Our new position was powerfully intimate, and it made me catch my breath. When he moved along with my body now, I felt his erection straining against my bum.

  Oh my God. I was going insane.

  Resting my head on his shoulder, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the euphoric moment. He was seduction in the flesh. The longer he held me, the more unbearable my lust for him became. Eventually, my desire for him grew so heavy that I knew I would be crushed under its weight if I didn’t act on it.

  All at once, lust capsized my good sense. I needed to kiss him – it felt as vital to my existence as oxygen did.

  Opening my eyes, I saw a shadowed area at the far end of the space, and it became my quest to bring him there. As I pushed against him with my bum, his arms fell from around me. Immediately, I rushed forward, but not before I had cast a lewd smile at him over my shoulder.

  “Cara,” he called, though it sounded more like an order. He charged after me. Sniggering, I snuck through the crowd, always just barely escaping his grasp. Like a man determined to redeem himself, he followed me, eyes resolute.

  “Cara!”

  Twirling, I gave him another wink. “Catch me if you can, Will!” I shouted back. Still giggling like an infatuated young girl, I manoeuvred past the dancing bodies towards my desired spot. It was just below the staircase leading to the second floor, and it was shrouded in beckoning darkness.

  I’d nearly reached it when I turned to wait for him. About three feet away from me, he stopped, eyes flickering between my mischievous smile and the dark spot behind me. As soon as he gauged my intentions, his chest expanded with his deep inhalation, and in the faint light, I saw his jaw clench.

  With a lustful gleam in my eye, I extended my hand to him as a silent invitation. I couldn’t quite detect the emotion that danced in the depths of his eyes. All I could tell was that it was intense.

  Without wasting another second, he gripped my hand and pulled me forcefully towards him. Somewhat startled by his urgency, I slammed into his muscular chest, and before I could recover, he was moving forward, hands on my hips as he guided me backwards into the darkness.

  Now veiled by shadows, he didn’t stop until I met the wall behind me. Once I did, he lowered his head in search of my ear.

  “You are such a tease.”

  I wetted my lips while my arms circled his neck. “Am I?”

  “I swear to god, Cara, you’ll be my undoing,” he growled.

  “What, you can’t handle me?” I teased and ran my fingers through his hair. Placing my leg between his, I proceeded to grind against his thigh.

  “Oh, I’ll fucking handle you,” he asserted and thrust his hips against me to pin me to the wall. Air exploded out of my lungs at his lustful action. A heartbeat later, his mouth found mine, and my chest ignited with a passion I’d only felt twice before.

  Truly, he was the best kisser I’d ever encountered. How I had managed to resist him before was beyond my comprehension. I must have been an idiot. The mesmerising motion of his mouth obliterated all my defences. Tender, and yet simultaneously forceful, it ravished my own. His tongue didn’t plough my mouth. It merely teased it, and it aroused me to an extent nobody but him had ever managed.

  However, his kiss was somewhat different this time around. It held such resolve that I was rendered powerless.

  Dopamine raged through my system when the delectable taste of him detonated in my mouth. I had missed it more than I’d been aware of. He tasted so good, and he kissed even better.

  My heart ached while he continued to possess my mouth. Pleasure feasted on the very fibres of it. When William kissed me, I felt ecstatic. It was as though nothing else mattered anymore. Everything faded – everything but him.

  It just felt uncannily right. Whenever his lips blessed my own, I felt complete, as though a vacancy I hadn’t known I harboured had been occupied, as though our lips had been designed for each other, and as though we had been fated to combine all along.

  It was entirely liberating to finally allow myself the sin – to touch him, to taste him. I wanted the moment to last forever. There would be no consequences then. Just him and I, marvelling endlessly at our overwhelming chemistry, in a moment locked away in infinity.

  “Mm,” he groaned into my mouth and cupped my cheeks in his hands. Pulling away, he rested his forehead against mine and heaved for air to stabilise himself. “Shit, Cara. What you do to me.”

  “Less talk, more kissing,” I replied above a ragged breath and brought his mouth back to mine. His stubble scraped my palms when I grabbed hold of his strong jaw, and I felt him smile against my lips. God, he was enticing. I wanted to devour the entirety of him.

  Adhering to my wish, he kept kissing me for minutes on end, and I never wanted him to stop. He was so bloody good at it. I was addicted to his mouth, and all the things it could do.

  My heart seemed to have caught fire, and his lustful hands on my body were adding fuel to it. Again, a most uncanny feeling poured into it, nibbling on the fibres. I hadn’t felt it quite so intensely since the last time I’d found myself in his sensual care.

  What was it? It was so alien to me. So sweet, and yet so achingly vulnerable. Delicate yet profound. I frowned while I struggled to identify it, but when his right hand trailed down my thigh, I forgot all about it.

  Groaning into his mouth, I invited his touch to progress. Seeming to understand, he hooked his arm around my thigh to bring my leg around him. After securing it in place, his fingertips travelled as light as a feather up my thigh again, and then inward towards my aching sex. He was barely touching me, and yet a touch had never felt more powerful.

  “Will,” I moaned and pulled away from his enchanting kiss.

  Chuckling, he reclaimed my mouth as his fingers drew closer and closer to my soaked folds, and once they flirted with the wet part of my thong, he broke our kiss to rest his lips by my ear. Meanwhile, I found myself preoccupied with recovering from the shocking tingling he’d left behind between my legs.

  Suddenly, he cupped my sex with his hand, and I instantly gasped.

  “Always ready for me, Cara.”

  “Yes,” I whined. “You drive me insane!” I confessed and gripped his collar to tug him back to my mouth, but he refused me the satisfaction. Halting mere inches from my trembling lips, his breath breezed across them while his eyes assessed the desperation in mine.

  “Good.”

  A smirk found his tempting mouth before he gently rubbed me. At once, I shuddered against him, caught by the delicious friction he provided. Hooking his fingers into my thong, he pushed it aside to reveal my wetness. One finger lapped over me once before he dipped it into me, although barely.

  Again, I shuddered, wanting him to continue.

  “More?” he purred into my ear.

  “Mm, yes,” I replied, high-pitched, and curled my fingers into his hair to drag his amazing mouth back to mine, and this time, he allowed it. He pushed his finger deep into me then, making me groan into his mouth. It felt so good.

  Using the thumb of his other hand, he rubbed across my clit. The sensation rippled up my spine and made my head jerk backwards, knocking into the wall. He seemed determined to make me come using only his hands, and I marvelled at the idea of it. No man had ever managed to make me come this way before, but William was well on his way to becoming the first.

  Adding another finger, he was thrusting two in and out of me now, and he focused his point of impact on my front wall. Meanwhile, the thumb of his other hand continued to rub me. My lips parted, and my eyes grew wide. Whoa. This was nothing shor
t of delicious.

  The tension rallied in the pit of my stomach. Growing larger and larger, it expanded until every muscle of my body tensed.

  “Shit,” I breathed. All the while, he watched me intensely in the faint light, assessing the efficiency of his methods.

  My brows furrowed as I chewed into my lower lip, my grimace revealing how much pleasure he was giving me. Heat spread across my skin, burning. Everything was so hot. My heart accelerated with the speed of his fingers, my breathing growing louder, harder, ragged. The background faded. All I noticed was him.

  His thumb struck my clit with perfect precision then. “Ah!” I moaned, my eyes squeezing shut. Applying more pressure, he continued to rub my throbbing bud, making my thoughts scatter into dizzy elation. Inside of me, his strong fingers continued to stroke that susceptible spot.

  “Will,” I panted. Responding, he thrust his fingers harder into me. I gasped. At once, my walls clenched around his digits. Shivers bolted through my system while my toes curled in my heels.

  Oh no.

  “Fuck!” I cried as I climaxed. To my relief, the pounding music drowned out my voice. There were plenty of other couples around us, but they were too busy with each other to mind Will and me. Besides, he was positioned in a way that looked relatively discreet.

  Trapped by William’s arresting eyes, I felt myself drift away as a blissful orgasm raged through my body. As I convulsed away from the wall, he rushed to cage me in his arms. Whether he remembered my tendencies or not was lost on me, but it was entirely plausible. I always quivered when I came, and he had experienced that first-hand before.

  His intoxicating scent filled my nose while I recovered against him. Once I lifted my head again, he followed the motion of mine. A coquettish smile flickered across my lips when he nuzzled his nose against mine.