One New Message (A Dark Romance Novel)

by Vivian Ward

  “I’ve never wanted to kiss you as bad as I do tonight,” his eyes scan my face. “That dress, those heels,” his voice trails off. “I can’t wait any longer.”

  He grabs the back of my neck forcefully and pulls me into him as his lips come crashing down on mine. I know he is strong, but I don’t realize how powerful he really is until now. As our lips touch, it feels like the air is being sucked out of me. Slowly, deliciously, tenderly.

  His tongue dances with mine, making every part of my womanly body tingle with heat and anticipation. Leaning my head back to kiss him deeper, I lose my balance, but he catches me. He’d never let me fall. His warm hands press against my delicate skin as he tilts my head back and trails kisses along my neck.

  He’s gentle at first, but then his soft kisses against my skin turn into aggressive, rough, hungry, hard bites, and he begins sucking on my neck.

  And I love it. I love it so fucking much.

  Bringing his lips back to mine, his kisses become more tender; matching his hands as he glides them from my back to my front, grabbing handfuls of my breasts through the flimsy material of the red dress that I borrowed. When our lips finally part, we are left panting and wanting more as we try to catch our breaths.

  I hadn’t noticed before, but my fingers are tangled in his hair, fisting handfuls of it. Gently, I release his locks of hair and smooth them back down.

  “Fuck, Joline, you can’t make this shit up. I know you have to feel it.”

  Closing my eyes, I sigh and rest my head on his chest. He is right. There is such an electrical charge between us, but at this moment, I am trying to separate my feelings. The ones inside my head and the ones inside my panties.

  All I can do is shake my head and grin.

  Trent laughs before planting a quick kiss on my forehead and stepping back to allow some space between us as he walks past me and opens my car door.

  “After you,” he says, a slight strain in his voice. Almost as though he’s in pain.

  I look down and see him trying to stifle his manhood that’s raging behind his zipper.

  Giggling and still a little tipsy from the alcohol, I slide into the leather seat and allow him to shut the door for me. During the drive, I can feel his eyes stealing glances at me, which makes me feel a little awkward.

  “Joline, I’m sorry about that kiss. I promised myself that I’d be on my best behavior with you tonight, but when I saw you wearing that sexy dress, showing that gorgeous body of yours, and you looked so fucking downright sexy and beautiful….I knew I was going to have trouble keeping my promise the instant I saw you.”

  I don’t know how to respond. Maybe it is the alcohol, or maybe it is a fact that I’ve always had feelings for him. The real truth of the matter is that I’ve always had feelings for both him and his brother. Maybe that was why I could never choose.

  “Damn it, Joline. Look at me,” he grabs my chin and pulls my face toward him as he steers over on the side of the road. “I want to see your eyes when I say this,” his finger traces my plump bottom lip. “I need to see you again. Do you understand that?”

  I begin blushing and can feel the heat radiating from my cheeks. I am so glad that the car is dark and he can’t see me.

  “How do you know that you want to see me again? How do you know it’s not the alcohol talking?” My voice is small. I’m afraid because I want the same thing, but I’m afraid of what it will entail.

  I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Not me, not Zack and not Trent.

  “I just do. There are a few things—very few—that I’m sure of, and you’re one of them.” He opens the moonroof and points up, “You see that star?”

  “Mmhmm,” I nod, still mesmerized by his kiss.

  “I’m sure the universe has plans in store for all of us, whether we know it or not.”

  His strong hands pull me across the seat on top of him. As I straddle him, our lips touch again for the second time tonight. When our tongues touch again, something happens. A fire explodes inside of me, inside of him, inside of both of us and there is plenty of heat to fuel that fire as we melt together in the front seat of his car.

  The blinkers started flashing as the wipers spread across the foggy windshield. We jump when we hear a horn begin to blare at us until we realize it is my ass pressed against the horn. Thank goodness it is late, and the road is deserted.

  Chapter 4

  “I need all of the bridesmaids ready in ten,” the wedding coordinator boasts as she walks around with her clipboard and speaks into her blue tooth headset.

  “Okay, Karli,” she approaches Karli, my best friend, and bride-to-be, in her beautiful dress as she adjusts her headpiece. “I’ll need you standing with your father at the church entrance as soon as you can get there so we can make sure your bouquet is perfect.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I’m finished here,” she nods toward her makeup artist.

  Adjusting my dress in front of the mirror, I see Karli walking up to me, and she looks stunning. Her dress would put Cinderella to shame.

  “You’re so pretty!” I hug her. “Are you nervous?”

  “Girl, yes! I’m so worried that I’m going to trip and fall in front of all those people out there, but before I do, I wanted to tell you something so that you don’t pass out and faint.”

  “Oh God. What is it?” My heart begins to race as I think about all of the possibilities. With Karli, the surprise could be any and everything, or nothing at all.

  “Two things. First, there’s been a couple of changes. You’ll be pairing up with Trent because Chris had to, once again, make some last minute changes. I just hope that his boy can fit the tux his cousin was supposed to wear.”

  That isn’t so bad at all. Actually, I am kind of happy to hear that. Although I haven’t told anyone, including Karli, that Trent and I have been seeing each other on the down low. As far as she knows, we had one luncheon and one dinner date together.

  “Okay, I can deal with that. What’s the other one?” I ask impatiently. I see the wedding coordinator coming and want to avoid Bitch On Heels if at all possible. Something about her high-strung ass tells me that she can make your life a living hell if she doesn’t pull off the perfect wedding.

  “Zack is here.”

  “Zack?” My heart tumbles from my chest to my stomach while my hands and feet become blocks of ice.

  Did I just hear his name? Did I just say his name?

  The room instantly heats up at least ten degrees, but strangely only effects my face because the rest of me is frozen.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying anything foolish. It is her big day, and I’m not about to ruin it for her.

  Bitch On Heels buzzes back into the room and begins clapping her hands. “Everyone, take your places!”

  I walk out into the area where we were all supposed to gather, and the first person I see is Trent. He’s standing near Chris and looks stunning in his black tux, waiting for the ceremony to begin. As soon as he spots me, he holds his arm out, and we intertwine our arms together.

  “You look so beautiful,” he whispers, admiring me in my dress.

  “Thank you,” the nerves in my shaky voice betray me. “You, um, look good too.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.” He looks at me as though he didn’t believe me. “Weddings make me nervous, especially when I’m in them and have to walk in front of everyone,” I reason with him.

  He laughs. “Why?”

  The first thing that pops into my head is when Karli talked about how she’s afraid of falling and making a scene when I was at her house talking about the wedding.

  “I don’t know. You always see people trip and fall in funny videos, and I can always see myself being in one of them,” I shrug. “I guess I’m afraid of falling.”

  Falling, I think to myself. Yeah, falling in love. With one, or both, of the Richardson boys.
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br />   When it is our turn, we walk arm-in-arm down the aisle, and I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, but there is one set in particular that I can feel. I just have to find them, though, and see for myself.

  With the ceremony underway, I begin scanning the large crowd. Karli and Chris’s immediate family is up front, but beyond that, the seating appears random. I see a few patches of various friends of ours sitting together, I spot a couple of her co-workers from the dry cleaners that she works at, and then…our eyes meet.

  There is no unseeing him. I definitely see him. He sees me. We see each other.

  If I thought age had agreed with his brother, then I obviously hadn’t seen Zack. He is sitting with a couple of guys that look vaguely familiar; they must be friends with Chris, the groom, or something because I know I’ve seen them before but I can’t put my finger on when or where. Zack’s arms are outstretched on the back of the church pew that he is sitting in and he is wearing a royal blue oxford shirt with the first three buttons undone, exposing his tanned and very muscular chest.

  He exudes confidence and sex. Even though he is only sitting several yards away from me, I can almost guarantee that I would be able to breathe in what pure sex smells like if I catch a whiff of his scent.

  When my eyes land on his face, I notice he is watching me with a lazy, playful smile on his lips. His chiseled, tan face reminds me of the beautiful models that you see in the Levi ads to which thousands of girls daydream about kissing one day. But far more dangerous than his sculpted face is a hint of deceptive sweetness in his features. The kind that when you look into those sea green eyes of his, you know you are in trouble.

  Big trouble.

  It’s been said that the eyes are the windows to your soul. When mine and Zack’s eyes connect, I see the danger, and something exciting. Something taboo and forbidden. My basic instinct knows that a man like him doesn’t make love to a woman.

  He fucks her.

  As we remain locked in a trance staring at one another, I am gripped by this feeling threatening to choke the air out of my lungs. A premonition or an omen, something is telling me to run and hide. Never turn back.

  But it’s too late. He’s already seen me, and I’ve already seen him, and he knows it.

  I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I just blink as my hand makes it way to my heart and starts rubbing my pounding chest.

  He is danger. Pure sex and danger.

  I want to take my eyes away from him, but I can’t.

  Turn away. Look at Trent. He’s the good brother. The one you should be with.

  Yes, Trent and I have spent an amazing three months together since my arrival back home, but now that I’m faced with Zack, I don’t know if I can handle myself.

  His smile is invigorating.

  His smile frightens me.

  Everything about the man hypnotizes me.

  Shaking my head, I break away from the hypnotic gaze that he is holding me in and turn my attention back to the wedding. I look up at Trent who is admiring me as if I am the bride; his bride.

  Girl, get a hold of yourself! Stop thinking about Zack’s wicked eyes and crazy omens. You know who you need to be with, even if Slutty Joline has other thoughts.

  After the ceremony is over, I am glad to be at the reception. Thank God for open bars, and for friends who stock them with top shelf liquor. I have been dying for a drink since Zack, and I locked eyes at the beginning of the wedding.

  Finishing my drink order, I feel a tap on the shoulder.

  “May I have the next dance?”

  Turning around, I see Trent gleaming his perfectly white smile at me.

  For some reason, instead of answering him right away, I pause. My eyes scan the crowded room looking for his brother.

  “Is everything okay?” he asks, breaking my train of thought.

  “Hm? Oh, yes,” I laugh. “Sorry. It’s been a long day. Sure, we can dance the next dance.”

  While I am sipping on my drink, I spot Zack. His gorgeous emerald gems beam right at me. I gulp down the rest of my drink.

  Shit!

  “Can I have an amaretto sour?” I ask the bartender.

  “Coming right up.”

  He hands me an amaretto sour, and I knock it back just seconds before Trent whisks me away out onto the dance floor.

  “You might want to slow down on those drinks,” Trent warns me, holding me close. “I wouldn’t want to have to carry you out of here. Or better yet, maybe I shouldn’t say anything so I can take advantage of you later.”

  “I can hold my own,” I say, secretly staring at Zack who is watching me dance with his brother from across the room.

  In fact, I should probably have a few more.

  I wouldn’t want Karli and Chris’s liquor bar to go to waste, especially when I could really use it. Throughout the whole slow dance, Zack stares at me with a look of lust, want, and desire.

  When the song is over, I thank Trent and excuse myself to the ladies room. As I am checking my makeup in the mirror, I hear a trio of women walking into the bathroom who are giggling uncontrollably. They are all very attractive women.

  “Girl, I would mount and ride that pony!” one of them chuckles before going into a stall and closing the door.

  “Ain’t he hot?! He’s easily the best-looking man here, and I don’t think he’s here with anyone!”

  They have to be talking about Zack. Aside from his brother, and maybe the groom, he is easily the best looking man at the reception and he is certainly the only man there without a date that I can tell.

  The remaining two of them who are talking and the one woman is saying how gorgeous he is and how he could easily get any woman he wanted. I notice that the third woman isn’t as vocal about him and refrains from speaking of him. Glancing at her hand, I notice she is wearing a wedding band.

  Ah, that’s why she hasn’t said a word.

  Why doesn’t he have a date? Surely, he could find someone to come with him. He’s Zack Richardson; any woman would date him.

  “Mmmhmm, and girl, did you see the way he was moving those hips to that last song? That man’s got some rhythm—if you know what I mean.”

  All of the women burst into laughter. I know exactly what they mean. And even though Trent and I are somewhat of an item, though it is nothing official, I can feel my blood beginning to boil as I listen to them. Who the hell do they think they are? Why did they think they have a chance with him? Or do they?

  Grinding my teeth as I continue to listen to them carry on about Zack, my stomach does somersaults as I think about the past three months that Trent and I have spent together. It was only three months. That’s it. Three short, yet wonderfully amazing months filled with fun, laughter, lust, and memorable moments.

  But damn it. I saw Zack’s eyes and the way he looked at me.

  I can’t bear to listen to the comments being made about him, so I leave the bathroom and head back over to the bar and order another drink.

  Is this my fourth or fifth drink? Oh well. Who’s counting, anyway?

  Drinking from my cup, I almost choke to death when Zack walks over and begins talking to me.

  “Care for a dance?” he holds out his hand.

  “I, um,” I am at a loss for words. Whew! The room is starting to get hot.

  Then I realize that I’m holding my breath, just like he’s holding his hand out to me.

  I remind myself to breathe and exhale the burst of air trapped in my lungs.

  “Come on. You’re not going to tell me no, are you? I saw you dancing with my brother. You can dance with me, too.”

  If only you knew about me and your brother.

  He obviously has no clue about the last few months that Trent and I have spent together. Zack leans in and hooks his arm around my waist, pulling me out onto the dance floor. I guess he isn’t taking no for an answer.

  “It’s good to see you again,” he kisses my cheek.

  My face tingles from where his lips touched my skin for what felt
like an eternity, but in reality is only seconds. I feel my cheeks flush as I clumsily take two steps back.

  “Whoa! How many of those have you had?” he nods his head toward my empty cup.

  “A few,” I smile.

  Admittedly, I am a little tipsy, but what else am I supposed to do? I had to do something to calm my nerves and my hormones. Yep, definitely needed something for those.

  “I’ve had my eye on you all night,” he pulls me back into him even closer than before.

  Oh, sweet Jesus! He really does smell like pure sex.

  How does someone smell this good?

  “I noticed,” I tease, twirling at his fingertips as he spins me.

  “Then why didn’t you come say hello?”

  What was I supposed to say? That I am in a relationship with his brother right now? That I could never choose between the two of you before? Wait…am I choosing Trent over Zack?

  Have I already chosen Trent?

  Am I making that decision right now? On the dance floor while Zack holds me?

  “A woman never approaches a man. It’s supposed to be the other way around.”

  Jeez. Is my cheek still tingling from his kiss? How is that even possible?

  “Well, here I am,” he dips me at the end of the song.

  His torso is on top of mine. Our faces barely inches apart. He is dangerously close.

  But I want him closer.

  His eyes scan my face and for a minute, and I am positive that I can feel his heart beating through his chest until I realize that it is my heart that’s racing. My heart is thumping, my pulse is surging, and my hormones are on fire!

  “Let’s get a drink,” I suggest. “The bartender makes a mean amaretto sour.”

  “Is that your choice of poison for the night?”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  “Have a seat, and I’ll bring our drinks back to the table,” he slaps my bottom as he walks past me.

  Shock and electricity charge through my body. I wasn’t expecting him to do that, but when he did, I couldn’t help but like it. Glimpsing around the room, I look for Trent but don’t see him.

  He must be in the men’s room, or maybe he’s with Chris.