Free Hook Up by Miranda Baker

But she had wanted him to call her. She had wondered for years how the connection they had made that night could have only felt special to her.
    Now she knew he had felt it too. He’d called—and found her smack in the middle of a frat house orgy. Sorrow made her want to fall to her knees and press her forehead to the floor, to grieve for the girl who had felt so alone. It was tragic, ironic, too much to regret.
    And too late.
    Desire. Resentment. Hurt .
    Tears closed her throat and she clung to Ryan as he led her around the dance floor, expertly avoiding the other couples swirling around them. She wanted to explain what had happened to her the night they made love. Her life had exploded. But she stayed silent. What would that accomplish? They couldn’t change the past and if he knew the truth, he might think they had a second chance together. She wasn’t that girl anymore, naive, embracing life and the gifts it brought her. She had nearly lost her mind learning to control her emotions, and being near him drove her crazy again. He made it difficult for her to think, to work—hell, to exist. Telling him what had happened to her would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
    But she couldn’t help but wonder what her life would have been like if he hadn’t lost her phone number. Would they have had a chance? Would she be wearing silk instead of leather, pearls instead of chains? If she hadn’t felt abandoned, would she have learned to share instead of block? Her laugh sounded hollow to the ear pressed against his chest.
    His arms tightened around her. “What’s so funny?”
    “Shh.” She shook her head, lost in the fantasy, feeling boneless, languid, lulled by the Southern rock music and the rhythmic swaying of their bodies. Pleasure coursed along her skin, connecting their shared breath, and she wanted to enjoy it, just for a minute. It was all she would ever have of him.
    “Spend the night with me, Crystal.”
    Out of nowhere, bodies slammed into them hard enough to knock her off her feet. The air whooshed out of her lungs as Ryan caught her firmly to his chest to stop her fall. Alisa’s bustled white gown wrapped around their legs.
    “Mark!” Alisa’s eyes were sparkling like the huge diamond on her hand and her cheeks were flushed. “This isn’t a mosh pit!”
    “I had a college flashback there for a minute. Sorry, it’s gone now.” Mark’s grin was not at all apologetic. “You two were looking very cozy,” he observed.
    The band switched to a fast tune. Crystal got her balance and stepped away from Ryan, grateful for the interruption.
    Alisa leaned in for a hug and Crystal embraced her, shamelessly dipping into her joyful emotions. Crystal gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “She’s all yours now, Mark. Congratulations.”
    “Thanks,” Mark said. He raised his eyebrows at the two girls, and his grin spoke volumes. “I just want you to know that I’m a generous man. And open-minded. Very open-minded. In fact, if you two ever get the urge to fool around again, I’d be more than happy to watch.”
    Alisa smacked his arm and laughed.
    Crystal raised her hand and trailed one teasing fingertip down the length of Mark’s strong jaw. “You couldn’t handle it, my friend,” she drawled, then gave him an accusing poke in his dimpled chin. “You’re awfully pleased with yourself.” She wasn’t talking about the wedding and he knew it.
    “Turnabout’s fair play,” he reminded her.
    “Not the same.”
    Alisa’s brow puckered, and worry washed away a bit of her bridely glow. “Mark, what have you done?”
    Crystal let her go. “Nothing you need to worry about, kiddo. You know I’ve got it all under control. Go forth and be happy. You’ll think of me on your honeymoon, I guarantee it.” Mark gave her a quizzical look, but shrugged, then claimed his bride by the hand and spun her off to join the gaggle of librarians queuing up for a conga line.
    Alisa blew her a kiss over Mark’s