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CHAPTER FOUR
His red fingerprints were well-defined on my hip. I rubbed my eyes, hoping water was blurring my vision, but when I glanced down at my skin again, the fingerprints hadn't disappeared. I could almost feel the burn of his touch as if it was still lingering.
Clutching my towel to my chest, I raced toward the mirror, now clouded with steam from my blazing shower. My fingertips graze the glass, wiping away the condensation to reveal the marks left on my skin. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding in.
His fingerprints were gone as I looked at my reflection. I traced the skin where they once were, not daring to take my eyes from the mirror. I didn't want to look toward my hip. Wouldn't know what it meant if those marks were still on my skin. Yet, despite my nerves, I slowly shifted my gaze away from the mirror and down to my skin.
It was bare, with only droplets of water. There was not a hair out of place or any discoloration on my skin, but his touch still lingered.
I jumped when I heard Isla thumping on the bathroom door. "Are you almost done in there? I need to get cleaning!"
I didn't reply. No sound would've come from my throat if I'd even tried. Instead, I picked up my discarded clothes from the floor and pulled on the door handle.
"Is everything okay in here? You were awfully quiet," she asked, one hand on her hip, eyebrow raised.
"Yeah," I looked back towards the mirror. "Everything's fine."
I slowly stalked back towards my room, my hand clutching the towel to my chest and discarded clothes in the other. As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, I let out a breath as I leaned back on the wood.
☆☾☆
A few hours later, I walked out of my room to a spotless apartment. The floors were so pristine I could see my reflection in them, the pile of shoes by the door had disappeared and the kitchen bench was almost spotless.
Isla stood at the bench; bottles of alcohol laid out neatly. "Now I may not be a bartender, but I do have an extensive collection of alcohol."
I snorted, making my way over to the selection of alcohol.
Her collection mainly included spirits like vodka, whiskey, and tequila. Some bottles were half empty, others had yet to be opened.
"Your choice of shot?" Isla asked, referring back to the seemingly limitless alcohol.
I wasn't a drinker. I'd seen my fair share of the consequences of alcohol at work, and although I won't be the one cleaning tonight I wasn't too interested in getting flat out drunk. Either way, I lifted my finger to my favorite spirit.
"You're crazy..." Isla mumbled under her breath.
She poured the tequila into a shot glass, before pouring her own shot of vodka. "To getting old and all that crap."
We touched our glasses together before throwing our heads back and downing our shots. The tequila stung the back of my throat and I winced ever so slightly. It was going to take me more than one shot to really feel the effects of alcohol tonight.
"So," I began. "What strangers did you invite into our home to drink and make a mess?"
"Mostly people you don't know," Isla answered, pouring herself another shot of vodka. "But I did manage to invite someone you like. Very much. "
I thought hard about who Isla might be referring to. Sure, we studied at the same campus, but we were doing different majors. We didn't have any mutual friends, apart from the ones I've introduced her to at the club only a handful of times.
"And who might that be?" I questioned, pouring myself another shot of tequila. I tilted my head back and swallowed the shot, only to choke when Ava answered my question.
"Your hot babe of a boss."
Once Isla realized that the answer, she gave me was not something I had expected, she rushed closer to me and began to slap my back to clear my airway.
"Bloody hell, Salem! Breathe!"
As soon as the air had returned to my lungs, I turned to Isla. "My boss?! Isla are you insane?" I managed to get out, still slightly choking. "I could get fired!"
"Don't be so dramatic. You work at a bar, Salem. He's seen his fair share of drunk people, I'm sure one more won't hurt."
"He's my boss Isla!"
"Then I guess you better act sober when you talk to him."
I rolled my eyes and ironically poured myself another shot of tequila. If I still had a job tomorrow, I didn't want to remember tonight. How could I even face him after my mishap in the bathroom this morning? I mean, I masturbated to him and for some strange reason, I had a feeling that if, or when, I saw him tonight he would know.
My thoughts were interrupted when a knock at the door startled both Isla and I. Isla quickly put down her shot glass and scurried over. She squealed when she pulled back the door, revealing her friend Ava. I'd met her before and she was kind and wild like Liv, but it was obvious the two girls were closer. For some unknown reason, they had a weird obsession with getting me laid.
"Happy Birthday bitch, let's get drunk and let's get laid!"
I rolled my eyes, but made my way over and gave her a polite hug. Isla grabbed both of our arms and dragged us over to her extensive collection of alcohol. This time, she poured three vodka shots and handed us one each.
"To getting laid and hot bosses!" My face dropped and both the girls started snickering before taking their shots. I knew it wasn't a good idea to mix drinks, but tonight seemed to be the perfect night to make bad decisions.
I downed my own shot, practically slamming the shot glass down on the bench. The girls continued to use the alcohol to make fancy drinks before everyone arrived. I wandered over to the speakers. I connected my phone and started to play my party playlist.
"Hell yeah," Ava shouted and started to sway her hips, Isla following her lead only seconds later. The two danced around with drinks in their hands.
