Jourdan Mathews has a secret, and she knows she needs to take this one to the grave.
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Her life was never complicated: a college student with a close family, good friends, and a plan for her future as a doctor. Had that night had never happened...
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My pupils are dilated. Eyes wide as I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror and try to catch my breath. I'd never felt attraction that intensely in my life, and Ryder wasn't even kissing me--well, it's probably more accurate to say that he wasn't kissing my lips. He certainly did a number on my neck.
I push my hair off my shoulders then, leaning forward into the light above the sink as I crane my head to the side and brush my fingers over the dark purple bruise spreading across the skin at the nape of my neck. I wince, air rushing between my teeth as it stings against my touch.
"Fuck." I breathe to myself, lowering my hands and setting them on either side of the sink as I stand back a bit now. I look myself up and down, one hand moves to pull my dress back into place and smooth the skirt down.
That had just been so powerful and overwhelming, I thought I might pass out, but I hadn't obviously, so now I'm hiding in the bathroom taking a moment for myself. I remember thinking I'd never felt anything like what Miles eventually learned to do with me. At the time, I didn't think sex or attraction could be anything better or more than what we'd had.
But outside on that porch, Ryder proved me wrong a million times over. Part of me quakes with both anticipation and fear at the idea of what it might be like to go farther. To let myself be free and enjoy the moments I keep getting with him. Moments I could have more of if only I'd ask.
There's something different about it too. Something foreign that I'd been feeling since the double date, when he'd held me close to him and somehow, inexplicably made me feel so safe and understood without uttering a single word. Only now, it's ten times more intense.
Finally, I stand upright, feeling renewed determination to stick with it. To follow through on the encouragement and excitement I'd felt from my friends. I give myself a once over, I'm still a bit flushed but otherwise I look good. This dress is turning the night into something wild, and I make a note to myself for the future. To only wear it when I know I need some extra magic.
I open the bathroom door, prepared to go down to the basement and rejoin my friends when one of them finds me first. Bex is standing right outside the door, a sly look on her face and I squeak in surprise.
"Ah!" I exclaim, stumbling back as she shoves me into the bathroom again and steps inside, shutting the door with a swift kick of her foot.
"Bitch," she starts. "What the hell was that I just witnessed?"
"God Bex," I grumble, placing a hand over my chest as I catch my breath again, her sudden appearance had frightened me a bit. "That scared me."
"Oops," she shrugs, clearly not caring as she crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow. "As I was saying, please tell me you're not going to let something like that slip through your fingers."
"What do you mean?" I ask, backing up against the sink and taking a deep breath.
"The chemistry on that porch was so hot, I think I'm even turned on a little bit." She laughs and I roll my eyes, shaking my head even though I laugh with her.
