Free Love Gone Wild: A Contemporary Romantic Comedy by Michele Bardsley Page A

she died, his soul would shrivel and die, too. He felt so restless. So helpless. Why didn't she just come back to him? Didn't he love her? Didn't they have a good life together? Anger cut through him so sharp and so swift, he looked down to see if he was bleeding.
    He leaned against the brick building and smoked another cigarette. Across the street was the ugly pink building that housed the Paradise Club. He was hoping she would return. It had been one of their favorite places. Hadn't she run here first? It proved that she still loved him.
    Lillie! Anguish crashed through him, mixing with the anger that stabbed at him. He felt like a black flame, dark and hot and needy. The doors to the club opened; a blonde woman stepped out. Long legs, high breasts, tiny waist, and black vinyl skirt hugging a perfect rear end. His vision blurred, refocused. Lillie? Yes. She'd come back. She wanted him. He flicked away the cigarette and straightened. The woman glanced at her watch then tapped her stiletto-heeled foot in impatience.
    She's waiting for me.
    He crossed the street, a smile on his face. She watched his approach with anticipation. Of course, she did. She loved him. She looked surprised when he touched her arm. She tried to pull away, but he grabbed her around the shoulders and covered her mouth.
    "Ssshhh, Lillie," he crooned. Why did she struggle? He dragged her around the corner and into one of the abandoned buildings. The need for her grew warm and heavy in his groin; he pressed his bulging hard-on against her buttocks.
    He removed his gloved hand from her mouth and turned her around. "Lillie."
    "Look, mister, I'm not Lillie."
    "Don't lie to me." He lifted her skirt and felt the smooth silk of her panties. She wasn't wearing hose. She never did. "I know you."
    "Please. Don't."
    A game. She wanted to play a game. He ripped off the panties. She screamed and tried to claw her way out of his embrace. Her heels caught on debris and she fell backwards. Her beautiful blonde head smacked against the bare concrete floor.
    "Sweet Lillie." He leaned over, kissed her smooth cheek, and felt the pulse at her neck. It beat strong against his fingertips. He reached into his jacket pocket and removed a long red silk scarf. Gently, he wrapped the material around her slender neck and pulled it tighter and tighter.
     "Good night, sweetheart.

Six
    M ARISSA STOOD IN Dane's bathroom, looking into the mirror, applying the finishing touch to her make-up: coloring her lips with Kiss-Me red. Marissa smoothed the red dress, though the "slinky little number" as described by the sales clerk, didn't have any wrinkles. She pressed a hand against her stomach to still the nervous fluttering.
    Tonight she would have sex.
    When Dane had told her Brent would like to take her out, she knew his friend had agreed to accommodate her wishes. She had to admit that arranging a liaison this way felt cold-blooded. If she were to evaluate her feelings honestly, she feared she wouldn't enjoy her first sexual experience with Brent as much as she would have with Dane.
    "Tuesday, where do you think you're going?"
    Marissa smiled at the ferocious sound of Dane's voice. He'd been in a bad mood since they'd left the TeenCenter. Shopping for make-up and clothes didn't improve his disposition, either. At least this time his ire was directed at her handsome note-taker. She leaned against the closed door to listen.
    "I'm going with Miss M."
    "Don't you think it would be awkward for Brent and Marissa to have you there scribbling down their every move?"
    She imagined Tuesday's grin was unrepentant. "This is the best job I've ever had."
    "This is probably the only job you've ever had."
    She'd better save Tuesday. Marissa patted her long curls—courtesy of her new rollers—and opened the door. Both men in the hallway turned toward her.
    She cleared her throat. "What do you think?"
    Tuesday's whistle was long and low. "You clean up real nice." He held up his legal pad and pen. "I'm ready