Coffee and Cream

A Time Warp

DARCELLE

Emrys had become my only reality, my compass in this strange world. He had unlocked something in me—something deep, primal, a sense of freedom I'd never known. I wasn't sorry for anything anymore, not for what I had done or what I had become. I felt awake—fully awake. My soul, once tangled and confused, was now tidy, sharp, and all-seeing. Through Emrys, I felt everything. And through him, I learned to love—if that's what this was. Maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was something far darker. But whatever it was, it was enough.

I sipped from a wine glass filled with alcoholic coffee, letting the bitter taste mix with the sweet warmth of alcohol. I swayed, my hips rolling gently to the sound of classical music. The violin strings pulled at my body, guiding me and owning me. My arms floated up like whispers in the wind, tracing the contours of my own skin. I moved seductively, just for myself, for the sheer joy of it, for the feel of being in control of my body and my desires.

But then Emrys' shadow crossed me. That was all it took to come alive completely. His presence filled the room like a storm about to break, electrifying the air. I smiled as I saw him watching me, his eyes dark with that mix of lust and amusement that only he could pull off. We had found something here, in this hopeless place we called life. If it wasn't love, it was damn close to it.

"I'm yours all night," I whispered to him, feeling his gaze burn into me.

The next morning, I felt lighter than air. The high from the night before hadn't faded; if anything, it had only intensified. I ran through the woods with my heart beating wildly in my chest like I was being chased by something I couldn't see. But I wasn't running away. I was running toward something. Toward the freedom, the ecstasy that came with the wind passing by my ears, the sunrise spilling gold over the treetops. I felt so alive, more alive than I had ever been before. I was in time to see the sun rise over the horizon. It was extra beautiful on this side of the forest, where the world felt untouched. I crouched down and placed my crystals on the ground, letting them soak in the morning light. Recharging. Just like me.

Later that day, I went to visit Emrys. He was waiting for me—that dangerous glint in his eyes, the one that said he was in control. I could feel it the moment I stepped through his door—the charge in the air. He didn't waste any time. He tied me to a tree in his front yard, wrapping the rough rope around my wrists, securing me there like some sacrificial offering.

"Is this for Isabelle?" I asked, my voice soft but teasing. I knew why he was doing this. He was finally punishing me for leaving the bracelet—for that little move I pulled, making sure she'd see it and know the truth.

He didn't seem upset, though. Not really. "You knew what you were doing, didn't you?" he asked, his voice like silk, wrapping around me as tight as the ropes.

I smiled. "I'm yours, remember?"

His lips curled into a smirk, but he didn't respond. Instead, he pressed his head to my chest, right over my heart. He listened to the beat, closing his eyes, his body heavy against mine. His fingers traced invisible strings along my ribs, strumming the rhythm of my heartbeat like it was a guitar.

I swayed, my head lolling from side to side. The black tar from earlier was spreading through my veins, thick and warm, making everything feel slow and groovy. My skin was electric, every inch of me humming with arousal, every touch sending shivers through my body.

"You make a beautiful tune," Emrys murmured, his voice vibrating against my chest, sending ripples through me. He was humming now, in time with the beat of my heart, creating a song from my pulse.

I whispered back, "That's what I feel for you."

His eyes flicked up to mine, something dark and tender swirling in them. "Then I love the song," he said softly, brushing his lips against my skin, so light, so fleeting. "My song."