Free The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

know. I’m sorry.” I felt tears making the ducts in the corner of my eyes tingle. “Don’t be mad at me.”
    “I was worried !”
    “I know. I just mean … my dad already …”
    “What?” I could feel Corey’s whole body tense, just from the sound of his voice.
    “Never mind. I have to go now. I’m already late for work.” My fingers gingerly explored the swelling on the side of my face again. At least no one would question it at work. Only Corey, Joe and Pace would care at all.
    “Liv! I need to see you!”
    “Okay, okay,” I said. “Today after work. Meet me in the woods.”
    I was exhausted by the time I met Corey. My face hurt and I felt slightly feverish as I stepped from the air-conditioned ice cream parlor out into the heat. By the time I got to the woods I just wanted to lie down and sleep for hours.
    Corey took me by the shoulders and examined my face. He touched my cheek gently.
    “What happened?”
    I shook my head, turned my face away and reached for his hand. We walked in among the trees. I tried to remember which way the cabin was but I had no idea. It really seemed as if I’d dreamed the whole thing, but then a lot of my life felt that way.
    We sat by the creek in the dim light and I kicked off my shoes and leaned against his chest. I was so relieved to be with him, here in the quiet. His heart was thumping. I traced my fingers along his bareforearm where the skin was satiny smooth and the veins pushed up slightly under the surface.
    “Tell me what happened,” he said. “Tell me why you didn’t call me.”
    “I told you. I fell asleep.”
    “Liv, that’s bullshit. You don’t go alone into the woods where four people got whacked and lie down and sleep. And what happened to your face?”
    “My dad,” I said. “He was drinking.”
    Corey drew away and balled a fistful of dried leaves in his hand. “I’m going to kill him.”
    “Shhh. Don’t say that. Kiss it.”
    He bent down and pressed his mouth lightly to the bruise. I could feel the imprint of his lips on my cheek, warm and soft with tiny lines running over the surface.
    He kept kissing me, moving toward my mouth. I turned my lips up to his and gasped as he ran his tongue lightly over them.
    “Corey …”
    He hushed me with more kisses. I knew I couldn’t do this. Not today. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself—maybe not. After what had happened in the cabin and then with my dad I didn’t feel in control at all.
    May the river of peace flow through me….
    Corey put his hands in my hair, stroked my face and neck. His fingers hesitated, lingered above my breasts. I sighed and my chest lifted against his touch as if my heart were trying to get closer to him. He slid his hand up my T-shirt and fumbled with my bra. It came unclasped and warmth radiated from his hand, through the center of my back and out into my limbs. He smoothed both hands down over my hips and I wriggled in his arms so that my back was pressed against his chest and my hips to his groin. Then he reached down into my jeans and I arched my back and turned my head so that our mouths found each other again. My teeth caught his lower lip and I wanted to bite down and taste the salt sea of his blood. I wanted to take off all my clothes and take off all his clothesand nuzzle his neck, nip his chin, bat him with my paws, lick him with my tongue, our loins locked together, my tail raised, brushing against him …
    I sat up. “I can’t.”
    “What? Why not, Liv?” He was breathing hard.
    “I thought we decided …”
    “We’ve been together for years.”
    I put my face in my hands. “I know.”
    “I’m freaking out, here, Liv. First you disappear. Then you tell me your dad is beating on you.”
    “I’m sorry!” I was shouting now.
    Corey stood up. “At least explain it to me.”
    “I can’t,” I said. “I don’t understand myself. It just doesn’t feel … safe.”
    “What are you talking about?” he asked. “I’ve never been with anyone