Free Love Unfurled by Janet Eckford

I
     
     “It isn’t that bad, is it?”
    “What’s your definition of bad?”
    The sound of Joel’s laughter causes people to turn and stare. It is too pure and unadulterated and they watch us as if we are exotic animals in a zoo. I have to resist the urge to stick out my tongue. I hate most of these industry parties in general but the fact that it’s a Valentine’s Party seems to make it worse.
    “I love when Tabby brings you along,” he says, leaning over to whisper into my ear, referencing our mutual friend.
    Oh he’s good at that, secret whispers and light touches against exposed skin. He could charm a saint out of her panties and considering that I’m not a saint he’d done it to me on occasion, several occasions in fact. I shiver at the thought of that talented tongue and fingers working their magic between my thighs.
    “You look lovely tonight, very sexy.” He leans in more as he delivers his compliment.
    His fingers brush against my lower back and I shiver. He seems to always know where to find the most sensitive parts of my body. The wicked man smiles that Cheshire grin that has made him so famous, as his fingertips tiptoe up my spine.
    “Let’s go for a drive. It’s such a nice night for one.”
    His voice is husky in my ear and I can feel the heat of his body as he moves closer to me. He is so good at this, the seduction, and I know that as he places a soft quick kiss on my shoulder I’m lost. He takes my glass of unfinished wine from my hand and places it on the tray of a passing waiter before leading me out of the room. We wind our way through the crowd of people as we pass from room to room in the house where the party is taking place.
    Finally escaping the clutter of bodies and cacophonies of sound housed inside, we are greeted by the cool breeze of night. He’s taken a different way that has put us toward the back, away from the valet and rows of ridiculously expensive cars.
    “Special treatment,” I say, noticing his car parked to the side.
    “Something like that,” he chuckles.
    I walk over to the passenger side but pause at the touch of his hand. He gathers me in his arms and places a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth. I look at him with surprise because I’ve known his kisses for several years now, but this one is new. The night is too dark and this side of the house isn’t well lit enough for me to see his face but I know he is watching me. A strange tingling feeling flutters in my belly as I try to decipher what he’s thinking. I open my mouth to make a glib remark but the crush of his lips on mine halts any statement I would have made.
      His tongue plays an erotic tempo in my mouth, and I let out throaty little moans of pleasure. I knew it was coming but each time he kisses me like this I’m surprised at how good it can be. He’s hitching my skirt up as he presses me against the door of his car and I turn my head because I need to get more oxygen, but his greedy mouth quickly claims mine again. I’m panting and gasping, heady on the pure pleasure of what he is creating. I want him to lift me and fill me up, take me under the stars against his car, with the sound of the music from the house drifting through the air.
    He doesn’t though, and pulls away. My hands reach out and twine their way through the silky strands of his hair and try to bring him back. He won’t come though, because I realize he has something else planned. Lowering himself one kiss at a time down my body he stops to rest his head against my lower belly. The soft silk fabric of my dress is pushed up around my waist and his breath is hot on my exposed skin.
    “You’re not wearing panties.”
    I can’t help it, I giggle at the sound of his growled words. I told myself when I got dressed earlier, that panty lines would ruin my look but as he gently strokes his tongue against over body, slick and wet with need, I know what the true answer is.
    “Please,” I hiss out.
    He’s doing that thing with his