Shiraz Read online

  “Ah, Melinda . . . sounds like you and our drummer already met. Did you leave your jaw outside the door?”

  My face boiled red. A joke had already been made? Thanks jerks.

  “She’s only kidding,” Ryan quickly added as he patted on the couch for me to sit next to him. “Anyone with an ego as big as our singer here needs to get as many of their kicks out as possible.”

  “Fuck off, Ringo,” she joked in response.

  This time I was laughing too, admiring how fast the attention was taken off of me.

  “Would you like something to drink, Melinda?” she asked pointing to the table topped with booze, wine, and alcohol. “Still plenty here that we need to finish up before the night is over,” Ryan added as he stood up to help himself.

  “I . . . yes, please. Whatever red wine is back there would be great.”

  Before making his own Ryan grabbed the unopened bottle of wine, popped the cork after ripping off the seal, and poured almost an entire glass full just for me. I suddenly felt like royalty. The conversation came naturally as the night went on. Alexa had been singing since childhood, going through opera lessons and becoming drawn to the sound of musicians who incorporated instruments not normally heard in typical rock bands, like the flute. She and Ryan formed the band ten years ago, and went through a few guitarists and bassists before forming what they consider family now. Observing the chemistry between them all, it definitely showed. Broken Griffin has an amazing sound unlike anything a naïve rock rookie like me has ever heard.

  Throughout the dialogue we had all exchanged, I had the overwhelming impression of someone sizing me up like a freshly grilled sirloin. I did everything within my power to keep this talk going. Alexa admired Antonio and his career, sacrificing our own personal time to help those who really need it. Antonio was an actual actor who had done theatre and appeared in music videos, I was just a boring nurse. I briefly thought about acting once upon a time, but I had the stage presence of a newborn puppy.

  When I ran out of lines to contribute to this conversation, I curiously glanced around the room. The other band members had formed their own little sects with family members and friends, not totally exclusive but uninviting of the obvious popular kids in the room. Antonio and Alexa continued to loudly converse as if they were the only ones in the room. If Antonio wasn’t gay, Alexa would be his soul mate. At no point did I feel Ryan’s eyes glance away from my body ever since he handed me a glass of wine.

  Before any of us realized it, the Avalon was shutting its doors for the night. Antonio, as much as I loved and trusted him, was in no condition to drive me home. He was singing "Phantom of the Opera" with a glass still in his hand. Alexa surveyed the scene, and said, "I think I will play the role of babysitter for our resident bard tonight. Ryan, do you think you could be a dear and provide Miss Melinda with a ride home?" Shit.

  I just about choked on my final sip of wine, but I fought to keep that release cough in. I was more than ready to protest, claiming I had much less to drink than my "date" for the night and could take Antonio home myself, perhaps arranging to drop off his car, but that was looking like a battle waiting to be lost.

  "If you are comfortable with it, Melinda, I would be happy to give you a lift." Ryan’s invitation was phrased so that there was no room for debate. Had it not been for the top-shelf wine I likely would have put up more of a protest. As it stood, I was not going to turn down a free ride home, especially by someone as cute as him.

  "Are you sure, Antonio?" I asked. "I'm sure we could also squeeze you in, make sure you get home in one piec--"

  "Oh Mindy I am fiiiiiiiiiine, don't you worrrry. Me and Alexa have a tune of catching up to do, take your chariot home and get some rest."

  He said tune instead of ton? Yeah, he’s done for the night. I looked at Ryan square in the eye, something he already anticipated. He wore an interesting smile across his lips, ready to grant a request I hadn't even thought to ask. I was old-fashioned and never got in a car with strangers, but at this point in the night Ryan was no longer a random musician.

  I finished what proved to be the final sip of wine for the night, setting down the glass on the same table where Ryan had first picked it up. Realizing how much of a mess I have made I didn't envy the Avalon staff members who had to clean up after every act who came through this place. I made sure to give Antonio a giant hug, thanking him for finally convincing me to join him for what was already an incredible night. He kissed my cheek, smacking his lips and ensuring me, "you are in good hands." I caught another smartass remark as he winked at me as I was just about to make my way out with Ryan.

  “Shall we?” Ryan politely asked, waving his hand in the direction of the exit. I gulped, hopefully not audibly. I let myself out of the room just after saying goodbye to everyone else.

  Ryan drove me back in a luxury rental car. He must only be going back home tomorrow as I don’t see why he would stay here especially with how expensive a rental car costs on a daily basis. The front seat might as well have been on a first class seat on a airplane as it was soft and cushioned enough to have put me to sleep if my teeth weren’t chattering. At every stoplight we hit, my thighs expected his hand to rest on one, a quick little feel in the middle of the drive, but that didn’t happen. He wasn’t budging despite my exposed flesh, even more visible thanks to the leather interior hiking up my skirt.

  Not much conversation had been traded between us. He must have been able to sense my nerves since every time I checked my peripheral vision he wore an amused grin on his face. A part of me became skeptical if he would blow right past my apartment and abduct me somewhere where they would never find me, but I secretly enjoyed that thought.

  Just as I thought we were only half way there we were actually on my street. I pointed to where he could pull nicely next to the curb pleasing me with an easy walk straight to the front door. The car rolled to a complete stop then he applied his emergency brake since the hill I live on is somewhat steep.

  “I really enjoyed our time together tonight,” he said, not looking me in the eye but staring out the windshield even though I faced him.

  Still feeling a buzz, “I had a blast! I really hope Antonio didn’t drink too much. He works tomorrow and I can tell you from experience what a pain in the ass a hangover is to have at a hosp--”

  “Are you okay to drive?”

  My brow furrowed. “Er…what?”

  Ryan unbuckled his seatbelt and eyed me. “I asked, are you okay to operate a vehicle? I know you had plenty of wine tonight, as did I, but I need to be sure you can get yourself somewhere.”

  I was confused. “What . . . do you mean? I’m home, so, heh, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere else tonight.”

  He must be drunk himself because I’m fucking confused. He removed his right hand from the steering wheel and dug into his right side pants pocket. A card emerged placed perfectly between his pointer and middle finger. He turned to me after letting out a deep sigh, darted his eyesight directly into mine, and he spoke,

  “I’m giving you the key to my hotel room. Hawthorne, room 932. I am not going to ask you to come with me in this car because that would be borderline entrapment, so I need you to think long and hard to be sure that you, Min, actually want to be there. I saw you on the balcony from the very moment you stepped onto it. I watched you move, I watched you smile, I watched you laugh, I watched you drink, and I watched you watching me. And now I am telling you Min, that I want to do more to you than just look. You have the face of an angel too naughty for God and too ambitious for the Devil. You have a body that deserves to be painted on the ceilings of cathedrals. I am not going to be in town for very long, but before I leave, I want to devour every inch of you.”

  I am speechless. He called me Min, how sweet.

  He continued talking as he inched closer to my lips. I could taste and smell his breath, so warm and inviting. Every word that left his lips set my skin on fire. If these seats were something else other than leather m
y hands would have torn into them as my nails are already half way through the top layer.

  His nose was millimeters away from touching mine. “This has to be your call. You have to want to give yourself to me, I am not going to take you unless you demand I do.”

  His eyes narrowed like those of a wolf realizing they have found their dinner. Just before our faces could touch he pulled back and handed me the key.

  “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you later, Min.”

  I was physically and mentally incapable of responding in words. I looked at his eyes, still sizing me up. I looked down at my feet, back at him, and opened my car door just after looking away. I took several jittery steps in the direction of my apartment, and without turning around, I heard his car pull off.

  I reached into my purse, dropping the keycard into a small pocket, as I reached for my phone at the same time. I unlocked my phone to see not a single text from anyone except Antonio which had a drunken array of misspelled words that read “Heay Medusa, are ok u$?” Alrighty then, he was obviously drunk texting.

  I swallowed hard, without a single drop of saliva in my mouth. I looked back in the direction of the street, and Ryan was already gone. I looked back at my phone making absolute sure there was not a text from Brandon. I checked Facebook and when I went on his page it displayed he had been on moments ago, yet he didn’t text me? I clicked out of the Facebook app. I dialed a number on my phone, put the phone to my ear, and after a few short rings a woman picked up the other end with a warm hello.

  “Hello, this is Uber, where are we taking you tonight?”

  With a condescending smile, “Hawthorne please.”

  Chapter 3

  Melinda

  The Hawthorne sat just minutes away from my house. The whirlwind of emotions - fear, anxiety, lust, and doubt formed a whirlwind in my stomach. I flipped down my car visor checking the mirror ensuring that my hair was cooperating for whatever I was about to experience. I look like a deer in headlights. Before heading inside I made sure my car was parked carefully between each car of either side of me. I stepped out of the car shivering as the gusty wind blew past me, despite it being almost sixty degrees outside. The Hawthorne was not a shithole motel that offered hourly rates, instead it was a nine floor beauty palace of luxury which made it the nicest place anyone could find around here. A revolving door took up the entrance which led into the lobby of marble flooring and statues that danced around the wide front desk. A miserable looking night auditor barely greeted me from the newspaper he held in his hands as I came through the door, perhaps already knowing why I was here, thanks to my outfit.

  I blew past the front desk and punched the call button of the elevator. The towering silver metal doors opened immediately allowing me to hop in alone. I pressed the button that read 9, no movement. I hit it again, and still no response. Noticing the card reader next to it I took out the key Ryan gave me and slid it through the reader. The button lit up white and I stared at the trim of the double doors which displayed the current floor number as it blinked. Every number closer to nine was like a multiplier for my heart rate. By the time the doors opened I kept my body back in the elevator leaving only my head visible as I peeked out into the carpeted hallway. The sign adjacent to the elevator directed me left for rooms 916-933. I gulped loudly as I quietly trooped in the direction of Ryan’s room. I felt warm as my face flushed with anticipation.

  Another left turn and room 932 was directly in front of me. Considering the amount of wall space between this one and the room at the end of the hall this must have been a massive suite. I looked side to side and a sudden pang of paranoia coursed through me like an electric shock.

  I clutched the keycard in my right hand hesitating for one last fleeting moment before I swiped it in the same manner as I did in the elevator. The door clicked, and I pushed down on the handle which granted me access to an extravagant room which obviously did not resemble the work of a man. A glass dinner table with four matching chairs sat prettily as it was positioned next to the window overlooking the highway, surrounded by still life paintings on the walls. A TV measuring up to sixty inches perched on the wall furthest from the door at a perfect angle to be seen from the couch which was set in the middle of the room. A coffee table was decorated with art books and local tourist suggestions.

  A narrow hallway gave way to a bedroom. I stopped short when I noticed a bleach white blanket adoring the foot of the bed. It was a king size, the headboard set with at least ten pillows, joined with a red comforter. Assuming it was Ryan’s, a travel bag rested at the foot of the bed opened all the way with several shirts strewn about. I set my purse down next to the lamp on the wooden nightstand. Where is this guy?

  The only door that was left was slightly cracked. A light spied through the crack and I heard the shower running once I inched closer. I glanced in the only space I had available; through the steam I was unable to see much of anything. I edged the door open a bit releasing some steam which allowed me to focus in and the only thing that appeared was a dresser which sat across the room from the bed that a bottle of Shiraz and two glasses shared. Creeping in, I helped myself to unscrewing the top, thankful that I didn’t need to find a corkscrew. The room still full of steam, I didn’t even bother pouring it into a glass, I was so thirsty I guzzled several mouthfuls straight from the bottle. I was thankful to finally have something to liquidate the inside of my mouth.

  The rain of the shower turned off. I slammed the bottle on the dresser placing it back where I found it as if stealing some wine was the worst act I had committed all night. I heard friction between the shower rod and the rings of the curtain as the curtain was pulled back. I sat on the edge of the bed remaining invisible as he took two feet step out of the bathroom. Should I speak up? Did he know I was here? I certainly did a fine job announcing my presence with that bottle.

  Ryan emerged. . . I am in awe. His hairless chest still stood beaded with water. His torso looked like a clear draft for Michelangelo. His abs were so toned his stomach could grate cheese. He wore nothing but a pair of black silk boxer shorts, which carefully outlined his concealed packaged. His legs like stallions, the product of hitting the bass pedals throughout the years, no doubt. He was toweling off his head when he looked up and noticed me on his bed.

  He’s looking right at me now. I waited for him to speak, to thank me for deciding to take him up on his offer, but he said nothing. Surely he had some witty comment in store just like the other conversations we shared earlier in the night, but he still stood motionless. The silence between us was deafening, enough to send me into cardiac arrest if my pulse kept increasing any more than what it already was.

  He took several calculated steps in my direction. He wore the same look I had seen in his eyes when he so boldly handed me the key to this very room. Our eyes met and I remained powerless as the weight of this pressure was great enough to hold me down. What was he planning?

  Stopping just two steps away from my face he planted his feet on the outskirts of my own. His crotch directly in my face, he reached out his left hand and took my right arm, urging me to get up. I followed his lead and stood amazed at how I didn’t fall over. With my right arm still in his left, he placed his right hand around my throat. The grip circling my neck was menacing and forceful . . . just like I like it. He stopped short of squeezing any harder and just simply held my neck as if it were a drink, ready to be consumed.

  Not once did his eyes break contact. Gosh, he’s so good at that. His gaze so intense, resembling a vampire smelling an open wound I did not know was bleeding. I closed my eyes as I scented his freshly washed chest. I opened them again, his lips now hovering close to my chin. He was smelling me as well. His nose traced a line from my shoulder skimming up to my neck. My knees buckled and just as I felt the need to collapse both of his hands slipped under my arms and held me up. I lifted up my chin and locked eyes with him once more.

  We both moved in at the same time, and connected simultaneously. My l
ips smashed against his so hard and so quickly there was no room left for the slightest bit of air. I am amazed that neither of us chipped a tooth. We inhaled and exhaled each other, blowing hot steamy air across our cheeks. His tongue explored the inside of my mouth as mine did the same to him, and I felt the back of his throat. My arms wrapped around his neck, and I dug my fingertips into his bare back. I sucked on the rim of his bottom lip as he ran his hand with a rough touch through my hair. By the bundle he forced my mouth into his own once again, but this time with much more force. He explored the space behind my teeth, running his tongue across them like a pianist running his hands across an entire keyboard. He tasted like granite and leather. I could feel my pussy soaking through my skirt.

  He pulled his mouth away from mine, staring at my mouth in what looked like disbelief. He smiled again, an evil display of his power over me. He shoved me backward, spilling my body onto the bed. I fell on my back as he crawled over me, pinning my wrists to the bed underneath his grip. I struggled to free myself just enough to show him this was what I wanted. I don’t think he would have let up if I tried harder. He dove into my neck like an eagle swooping down from the light sky, licking my shoulder and snaking his tongue all the way up my clavicle, back up to my earlobe. In that same exact spot he took it between his teeth and bit down. I cried out in ecstasy as my inner thighs are ready to set the bed on fire.

  He let my wrists free so that his hands could slide down my arms to cup my tits through the corset. He continued to kiss me as if a bomb flick off if he neglected my lips for more than five seconds. He pressed up against my body and I could feel his cock filling up through his shorts, nuzzling my knee. He sat me up, pulling my head and forcing it into his chest. I zig-zagged my tongue all over it taking both nipples in my mouth, one after the other, and sucking on it until they each hardened. He growled a savage snarl that told me how much he was already enjoying this. His talented hands unzipped my boots as I was sprawled out on the bed. Sliding each boot off my leg gave my feet some much-needed oxygen.