Chapter 4 Four

Selene groaned, “Mom—”

“No.”

They tried asking, begging, negotiating, and bribing to get good grades this session but nothing worked.

An hour later, Selene grinned mischievously from her bedroom, “We’re leaving through the window.”

Lyra stared at her, “You’re insane.” 

“Probably,” Selene said with a chuckle already standing up from the bed while Lyra watched in shock.

How did she end up with such a chaotic friend like her? 

They climbed out carefully and dropped into the yard only to find Rowan standing there. 

He folded his arms, “You two are unbelievable.”

Selene sighed dramatically, “How much?”

Rowan grinned, his eyes going over Lyra, admiring how the dress looked on her without looking away for a second before he quietly said; “Fifty.”

Selene shoved money into his hand, “You saw nothing.”

Rowan pocketed it and stepped aside, “Have fun, criminals. Selene take care of her!" 

The girls ran laughing toward Selene’s car. By the time they reached the party venue, the music was shaking the walls.

The Night Riders party was wild, the lights flashed, and bodies moved everywhere. The music was loud enough to feel in Lyra’s chest. Selene grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.

For once, no one stopped Lyra. She wasn't invisible and they danced together in the crowd, laughing breathlessly.

Lyra had never seen anything like it. People were wild, careless, alive and Selene fit into it effortlessly.

Eventually, Selene dragged her to the bar. They sat on the stools, laughing and drinking. Lyra sipped slowly, watching everything around her in amazement.

Then Selene suddenly gasped, “Oh my God.”

“What?”

“That guy—my crush from last session.”

Before Lyra could answer, Selene jumped down, “I’m dancing with him.”

Lyra laughed, “Go.”

Selene grinned and disappeared into the crowd.

Left alone, Lyra sat quietly, sipping her drink and watching Selene dance. She looked so free, so fearless, she had no idea how lucky she was and Lyra smiled softly as she watched her friend. Then the room began to blur and she blinked. 

The lights were suddenly too bright, the music too loud, she stood trying to steady herself, her body swayed, something was wrong and she tried to move towards Selene. 

The floor tilted beneath her and just as she stumbled, strong arms caught her and a stranger's scent surrounded her. 

Her fingers gripped a firm chest as dizziness crashed over her. She tried to lift her head, but the room spun too fast. The last thing she felt was the warmth of unfamiliar arms holding her upright.

Then everything went dark.

She slowly began to feel hands on her skin. They were warm possessive touches and every touch sent heat rushing through her body like fire beneath her veins. 

Her lips were pressed against someone else's, soft gasps escaping her as fingers traced across her waist, her arms, her thighs.

Her mind was drowning in haze, in warmth, in the dizzy blur of pleasure and confusion. Is this Damon? Was what her heart asked her brain cell, but even the brain couldn't process anything at the moment. 

This had to be Damon. That was the only thought clinging to her mind. 

It's him, that's the only boy who could be in proximity with her like this, she had wanted him for so long, his smile made her heart race, someone she had always dreamt of kissing or losing her virginity to. It'd be worth it if she ever lost it to him. 

Then she felt hands on her breasts, a nibble at her neck, ears, her feet curled into each other, her hands resting on those broad shoulders. 

Was this really happening? Was this finally real?

A low sound escaped her lips as she felt herself buried gently against soft sheets. The room was dark, the world spinning, her thoughts slipping in and out like shadows.

She tried to mark out his face, tried to see him. But everything was blurred and all she could feel was his touch. 

Then came a sharp pain that made her gasp. Her fingers clutched at him instinctively. For one second she thought she would pull away. But then his lips found hers again.

The pain softened beneath the wave of warmth that followed, and she melted into it. Her arms wrapped around him as though she had wanted this forever.

As though this was where she had always wanted to be. And somewhere in the darkness, she whispered the name that lived in the secret corners of her heart.

“Damon...”

The body above hers stilled for a brief second. Then the moment swallowed everything again.

Lyra woke slowly, her head pounded and her body felt sore. 

For a moment she stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling above her, unable to remember where she was.

Then flashes of the night came rushing back, the party, drinks, heat, hands, her breath caught as she sat up too quickly, pulled the sheets and there was a crimson stain on the bed, panic flooding through her.

The room was quiet, the space beside her was empty, her clothes were scattered and she was alone and yet, there was still a stain of her on the sheets. 

And she was alone, her heart pounding wildly as she looked around. There was no one, and that meant no explanation, no sign of who had been there except the memory burning in her skin and her head was a mess, she couldn't think of anything. 

Her hand trembled as she pulled the blanket around herself, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to breathe through the shock.

Damon... It had to be Damon. There's no way anyone got close to her because of who she was. Only Damon has ever been in proximity to her. 

She remembered the way she felt, the safety in his touch, the way she had said his name.

A strange mix of fear and happiness twisted inside her chest. Fear because she had given herself away so suddenly.

Happiness because if it was Damon... Then maybe the impossible thing she wanted had finally happened.

Maybe Damon wanted her too. But why would he leave? 

That thought hit her like cold water, why would he leave without saying anything?

Her chest tightened, thinking of every possible scenario why she woke up alone in this bed. Maybe he panicked, someone saw? Maybe he planned to find her later. She wanted to believe that and swallowing hard,  Lyra forced herself out of bed.

She quickly gathered her clothes and dressed with shaking hands.

Every movement made her more aware of what happened. Her face burned with humiliation and confusion.

She glanced around one last time, hoping to find some clue, but there was still nothing. There were no notes, jackets, or any proof of anyone ever being in the room with her except the stain on the sheets. 

She slipped out of the room and into the dim hallway, her legs weak beneath her. The music downstairs was still pounding, people still laughing, like the world had not changed.

But hers had.

She moved through the crowd in a daze until she found Selene near the bar. Selene turned, eyes widening immediately.

“Lyra? Oh my God, where were you?”

Lyra grabbed her arm. “Can we go home?”

Selene frowned. “What happened?”

Lyra shook her head quickly, “Please.”

Seeing the panic in her face, Selene didn’t argue. She grabbed her things and led Lyra out.

The cold night air hit Lyra’s skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside her.

The ride back was quiet. Selene kept glancing at her but said nothing until they reached her room.

The moment the door shut behind them, Selene turned, “Tell me what happened.”

Lyra stared at the floor, “I... I think I slept with someone.”