Adeline
Paul stands at the kitchen counter, carefully preparing tequila shots. The girls have gone to dance in the living room, and I have followed the eager blonde to show me how to drink a tequila shot at the university. It will be my only shot of the night, and after drinking a very bland and tasteless beer, I can't wait to try something stronger.
"Please take the salt behind you," he tells me, pointing to the spices collected in a small wicker basket near the stove. I set the pot of salt in front of him and watch as he cuts thin slices of lemon and places them near the glasses.
"Are you ready?" he asks.
"Yes."
"Good," he says, turning to me and inspecting me, "pull your hair back."
"Why?" I ask, not understanding.
"Your neck needs to be accessible."
Still not quite understanding, I comply and twist my hair into a messy bun on top of my head.
"Oh, Jayden, my man! Would you like to take a picture with us?" I jump as my eyes meet his familiar and reassuring silhouette. Wearing a cap and holding a cup, he approaches us and takes a position on the other side of the kitchen's central counter.
"What shot do you want?" His deep voice sends a wave of chills down my arms.
"Teq paf. Paul wanted to show me how they drink it here."
"How?" Jayden asks, turning his attention back to his friend.
"Don't play innocent, White, remember it was you who taught me this technique."
Jayden seems pensive at first, then furrows his eyebrows.
"Are you serious, man?"
Given his tone, I'm beginning to doubt my desire to try this. What have I gotten myself into...?
"Of course she doesn't know, so I volunteered to give her a demo."
Clearly annoyed, Jayden mumbles incomprehensible words before disappearing into the living room, his hands buried in the pockets of his jeans.
"Well, I don't know what's gotten into him," Paul replies, surprised by his reaction. "Anyway, are you ready?"
"Yeah," I agree, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Okay, so you take your lemon in one hand and put it in your partner's neck. " He points at himself, laughing. "Then you take the salt and put it in the palm of your hand. Got it?"
"Yes, but why the neck for the lemon?"
"You inhale the salt, drink the shot, and then take turns licking the lemon off your partner's neck. Sensual, my dear, that's the plan. Ready?"
At that moment, everything becomes blurry. I feel a liquid trickling down my neck and a tongue licking the sour trail that sticks to my skin. Sensual? There's nothing sensual about this act. Or is it the partner who makes the experience a little disgusting? Anyway, when it's over, I quickly grab a towel to wipe off the drool before it dries.
"Your turn!"
Embarrassed, I still try to make a joke out of it and follow the steps as planned: salt, tequila, tongue. Within seconds, my throat is burning and my eyes are watering from the alcoholic liquid. Still, I thought it was fun. It's something to try again, but... I think I want to try it again with Jayden...
Jayden?
Amused and slightly tipsy, I leave the kitchen with a smile on my face and join my girlfriends in the middle of the living room. They were dancing enthusiastically to a song I didn't know at all, but it was very catchy. When the song starts again, I step off the dance floor and lean against a wall, enjoying the cool contact on my warm body. I focus on the girls, who continue to have fun on the makeshift dance floor, but my eyes are quickly drawn to what's happening a few feet behind them. Jayden is there, leaning against a table, and he's not alone. Lydia, the beautiful hostess of the party, is close to him, with a hand on his chest and laughing provocatively in his ear. Jayden does not seem bothered by their proximity, a mischievous smile still on his lips.
"Hey, you, are you new here?"
I tear my eyes away from the disgusting sight unfolding across the room and turn to a tall, platinum blonde with blue eyes who has just stopped beside me.
"Do you want a drink?"
"No, thanks," I finally reply, turning my attention back to Jayden and Lydia, who are still standing close together.
Damn, what could he possibly be telling her that makes her laugh so much?
"...And what's your name?"
"What?" I ask, quickly turning my head towards him.
He smiles at me, apparently not noticing that I haven't heard a word he's said.
"What's your name?" he asks again.
"Adeline."
"Amber?"
"No, Adeline," I answer, emphasizing the pronunciation.
"Is that French?" he asks, interested.
"My mother is of French descent," I say, keeping it simple.
I listen with one ear to his fascination with French culture, which I know no more than he does. I almost feel guilty for not being receptive to his words, but I admit that I don't really care about my surroundings. The only thing I care about now is getting her off of him, again.
So that's the white charm working right in front of my eyes: they all fall for him.
Including me.
I don't know if he felt me watching him from afar, but his eyes finally meet mine. With one hand, I see him grab Lydia's wrist to stop her wild run to the bottom of his belly, without breaking eye contact with me.
"Do you want to dance?"
My interlocutor's voice breaks the eye contact I had with my stepbrother and brings me back to reality.
"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling very well. Could you tell me where the nearest restroom is?"
"Third on the left, upstairs."
I leave without saying goodbye, leaving him standing against the wall with his beer in his hand.
Sorry, blondie, but your timing was very bad.
I hurry to the stairs and climb them quickly. Breathless, I find myself in the darkness of the hallway.
"Adeline, wait!"
When I hear Jayden approaching, I run to the nearest door and open it furtively before slipping into the bathroom.
I have no desire to face him now, even if I have to literally flee from him like a five-year-old child!
But as I close the door behind me, Jayden pushes harder, entering the room and turning the lock behind him.
YOU ARE READING
Despicable Desires
Romance"He is her despicable half-brother. And he drives her mad... For years, he has returned to the family home only on rare occasions, and that suits Ambre just fine. The less she sees of her obnoxious half-brother, the better off she is! So when she le...
