Chapter 2
The metal bars of my bunk bed were cold against my feet. I slid out of the covers onto the bottom bar, wincing as the whole bed creaked. I waited, tense. The storm still crashed around us. None of the bunk makes moved.
I slide the door shut behind me, knowing I'd have to answer a litany of questions later. The toilet flushed in the distance.
Damn
. I sped into the common room -- empty--and ducked behind the couch. I heard the bathroom door squeal open, saw the shadow of a resident return to their room. I couldn't let anyone see me.
His room had been down a side hall, by the kitchen. Through the kitchen's round window, I made out lights--some staff was still in there.
There was no way past without being immediately visible to anyone in the kitchen, or someone passing through. This was crazy. I should turn back.
But my heart was in my throat, and my thought of what I might do, what I could do... I wasn't sleeping tonight. I settled onto my toes and hands, ass up. Maybe I could-
I was posed like that when the lights went out.
Lamps throughout the inn flickered and failed, and the wind outside the walls roared in victory. I heard a curse from the kitchen.
Run.
My feet found purchase on the ground, sliding out from behind the sofa, past the buffet cart, and around the corner. I hard the rumble of rising voices, but I had arrived at the stranger's thick wooden door, and knocked before I had time to scare myself out of it.
Insecurity crawled through me. What if he was upset at being woken up? I tried to fix my bedhead before remembering it was almost totally dark.
A chair sliding. Steady footsteps. Then the sound of the door opening? "...Hola?"
I tried to slip in, only to bounce off his body, blocked.
"Hola? Hello, can I help you?"
Crap, he was so loud. Think, think, some way to quiet him.
I grabbed his hand in mine. "
Shh
. Uh, please. It's me, uh, the girl from dinner. Taco night." I could hear footsteps pounding through the common area.
I see the outline of a head, tilting. "Oh. Yes. I remember your firm views on dinner. Can I help you with something?"
I closed the door shut with my foot. Then I swallowed, turned, and kissed him.
Or I tried. I got a mouthful of chin. I broke away, stuttering until I felt his palms stroke my cheek. His lips slide across mine, hot against my skin. I felt shivers down my back, and almost backed away. But I kissed him back. I found him in the dark, ran hands through his hair, lips lost in his, and my body leaning into his sturdy weight.
I leaned my head back, offering my neck. My eyes drifted shut as his stubbled lips worked their way down, capturing my soft skin, then working across my shoulders, one hand pulling down my shirt collar. The other hand slid onto the small of my back. I led his hand down, guiding him to grip my ass. I drove my teeth into his shoulder, then smiled as I got what I wanted- a groan into my ear.
"Damn, you crazy?" He backed way. His hand came to ruffle through his now-tousled hair. I felt the cold of his absence. "Ma'am, I don't understand. I don't even know your name."
I get my breathing under control. "Yeah, totally. Um. It's Noel. My name, that is."
For a second, he's just an outline in the dark. "Why? I mean, I liked you. I felt... well. I was watching you, er- observing. You took a headcount of your group every 10 minutes. Read the nutritional information for each meal. I didn't think you were the kind of person to... well." His hand took mine gently. "What is it you want, coming here?"
Part of me was still bubbling over that he had been watching
me
. And here I thought I had been pitiful, looking at the rugged hunk all evening. The attention was intoxicating. Except, part of me was painfully sober. He was right. I wasn't the kind of girl to sneak away from her friends, brave a blackout, all to see a stranger. I had duties. Responsibilities.
My hand tightened onto his. And I would have duties tomorrow. But right now, the lights were out.
'I want... you." This time I found his lips, capturing them in a fervent rush. I heard a surprised exhale, then his hands were cradling my face, telling my head into his kiss.
In the dark, I had a difficult time finding his belt. The kissing didn't help. At last, my finger wrapped around the buckle, tugging and bending. He groaned in surprise as my hands lid past his zipper. Ok, not as graceful as in my fantasy. But even I could find a dick. It wasn't hard when it was pulling out of his boxers, and was so... well. Wow.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, as my mouth traveled downward. "I didn't think you would-