Chapter 1

Azalea's POV

Raye... Escapism          

The bar sounded louder than I thought it would. Even louder than the one they showed in movies.

Where’s the fun? 

I felt awkward in it, mainly because this was my first time in a club, and because it felt as if all eyes were on me. I was not a confident person at all, that’s one of the reasons I was here, because I wanted to play pretend, I wanted to fool myself into thinking I could be the same as everyone, especially Rose, my sister.

“You have to play your part well,” Lara, my best friend shouted in my ear as she came back with what looked like the potion in Princess Charms.

“I think coming here is very wrong.”

“And what decides that? You, me or the little voice that sings in your head every time, every day.”

“I think you know what I mean.”

“Well this is the right time to feel this way, because you have this to help you feel better,” she said as she produced one mini shot of what looked like poison. “This is Courage, or so I heard, and I can guarantee you it works everywhere.”

After what felt like eternity and four of the drinks in me, I was on the dance floor, swinging and banging whatever and anything to the beat, throwing it back to Lara’s laughter.

I had never felt this free in the entirety of my life. And I was going to make the best of it.

I made my way back to the bar for another of those shots, I needed more of the liquid. I liked whatever it was doing. When I got to the bar I decided to sit, I should take a minute to appreciate this night. I wasn’t sure I’d have another like this in my lifetime. I had to use this chance like it was my last.

“Is this seat taken?”

I swear that I felt myself jump from my seat, and if he wasn’t there, I would have fallen to the ground.

Do people still fall for that line?

“You scared me, wow!” I almost screamed.

 “I’m sorry.” Hearing his voice, the second time made me realize how deep it sounded. “Believe me that wasn’t my intention.”

“Yeah, whatever.” I almost rolled my eyes.

“I promise.” He said with his hands raised as surrender, “I can pay for this drink with you to show my sincerity.” 

That got me laughing. 

He took the seat beside me and kept looking at me.

“Is anything the problem?”

I was surprised by the question. Do I look like what I'm trying to hide? Isn't my smile doing a good job of hiding the job?

Besides, would telling solve whatever the problem is? Should I not just settle for tonight being one that’s worry free and forget about those that have made me miserable.

“No, there’s nothing wrong, I’m just here to have a good time.”

“Trust you don’t want to talk about it? I mean, I hear that a problem shared is half solved.”

I looked at him closely. I was sure he came here because he had his own problems too.

“Don’t you think talking about my problems might ruin whatever chances of something happening between us?”

I couldn’t believe I said that and almost choked on my spit. 

I looked at him and noticed a little smile. At least he wasn't not running from me.

“Are there any chances of something happening between us tonight?”

“Are there?”

He let out a laugh that sounded to me like one of Seraph's songs.

Maybe it was the courage from the drink, or the look in his eyes, or just my stupidity that reared its head at the worst times, whatever it was, made me grab his head and pull him in for a kiss. I knew I was going to regret whatever it was that I was doing, but I couldn’t for the life of me stop.

He tasted like everything I’d always wanted. Urgency and lust and mistakes. But wasn’t that what I’d always wanted? To live free, even if it was just a day. I noticed his hands on my shoulder, almost as if he wanted me closer to me than I was. I felt those hands wander to my waist, and then toyed with the hem of my shirt.

When he pulled me to his chest with one of the hands on my waist, molding me perfectly to him. I couldn’t stop the moan that I released. I felt the reaction in the pit of my belly.

This wasn’t the type of person I was. I didn’t kiss strangers in bars, I didn’t like the feeling of doing something I'd regret. I was meticulous, I made plans and then achieved them no matter what. But if this was what spontaneity is, I was going to enjoy tonight, hell be damned.

“Should we take this upstairs?”

I nodded in approval and hoped that he liked whatever he saw.

The room he booked looked like it belonged in movies and magazines about top romantic rooms to ever exist. Red lights, mirrors, chandeliers, red wine and everything I could think of.

“Why do you have a room this beautiful?”

He laughed again and pulled me into the room. 

“Are you here for the room?”

I raised a brow at him in question.

He sat on the couch closest to the door.

“What do you mean?” I asked while blinking sheepishly at him

I didn’t want to chit chat anymore, but I didn’t want to make any advance the second time. Whatever courage I had was starting to wear out.

I turned to him and saw him pouring wine.

“We'll need this.” He pointed the glass toward me and I accepted it, mouthing a low thank you.

Thank the stars at least one of us knew what to do.

I sat beside him and downed the drink in one shot. I felt it in my head, throat and stomach.

“Wow, slow down. It’s strong stuff” he said, placed his cup on the table and took my hand in his.

I felt hot and I wanted my clothes away from my body. I tugged at the tiny black shirt that Lara had given me and struggled to pull it off. 

"What's your name, beautiful?" He asked as he swiftly unclipped my bra, throwing it on top of my dress. He pulled back and stared at me in amazement.

Something stirred inside of me at that moment, either it was the side effect of the alcohol or because no man has ever stared at me that way.

"Beautiful."

"What?" He chuckled as he took off his shirt, leaving me staring at his naked chest in awe.

"Damn!" This man was singled out and handmade by God himself. 

"So, you're not gonna tell me your name?" He asked as he carried me to the bed and laid me on it. He climbed on top of me and resumed kissing me.

"Let's just keep it that way. Now, put your hands on me, pretty boy." I said almost breathlessly, trying to unbuckle his belt.

"No need to rush, we have all night." He mumbled as he kissed my chest before taking my hard nipple into his mouth. A moan escaped my lips as I arched my back off the bed, my hands flew to his hair and I pulled him closer to my breast.

He sucked and bit the hard peak while assaulting my other breast with his hand, preparing it for the same treatment. He trailed kisses down my stomach while fondling my breast. His hand trailed my ribcage, sending shivers down my belly and causing me to arch my back. There's something about every little thing he does. When he played with my nipple and kissed my inner thighs, I didn't want him to stop. 

I felt his hand leave my breast and move to play with the space between my thighs, barely touching where I needed him the most.

I nudged him with my hand, trying to tell him where to touch. 

Patience, I lost the meaning behind it.

He took my hands in his and pulled it above my head, holding it captive.

He used his hand to caress me before flicking my clit with his tongue.

"OMG! Wait!" I said as I looked down at him, he stared at me, confused.

"Don't tell me this is the first time you're having someone go down on you?" He asked with a chuckle and I felt the vibration in my clit, which caused me to let out a moan I didn't know I had somewhere

"What! No" I said but couldn't stop the blush rising on my cheeks.

I just had second thoughts about doing it.

He must have seen the look in my eyes because he just laughed and kissed my belly button. 

He kissed my clit and blood rushed to my head and lower stomach. I felt something words couldn't describe. 

The way he touched me felt like a scorching flame, taking me straight to the hottest part, heat sizzling in me. I kept wriggling, hoping to run from the pleasure he was giving.

"Please" I panted, not knowing what I was begging for.

"Say what, beautiful?" 

"I want it now." Surely, that was the liquor again, not me. 

"If you say so." He got off the bed and took off his trousers. His hard dick showed me what I already feared. He worked his hand on it for a while before climbing on top of me again.

"Are you ready?" He asked as he aligned himself at my center, giving my lip a very hot kiss, one that felt as if he was branding me.

"Yes, please. Do it." I raised my hips so I could take him in but he held me down and slowly drove into me.

"Darling, you're so tight." He hissed, "Am I your first?" He asked, horror laced in his voice.

"No, I'm not." I almost laughed at his expression. I wasn't a virgin but I didn't want to know his reaction after he finds out he's my second man.

"This feels good." He looked relieved, then he moved out of me, and that was when I realized.

"You didn't use protection!" It was his turn to laugh at my expression.

"Relax, beautiful. I'm clean, and I'm sorry" He asked as he thrust back into me, knocking my breath out of me.

"Umm, I'm sure I'm clean too." I managed to say. I've had sex with just two men, and with protection for the first man.

He picked up his pace and thrust into me faster, making me lose track of whatever I was thinking. 

The bed rocked and continuously slammed against the wall to the rhythm of his thrust, making me feel like I'm on cloud nine. No, this is better.

I enjoyed his thrusts, his touch, his mouth on me and when I reached my climax, tightening on him, inducing his release causing him to push so deep into me I let out a scream, I wished I could have more of this.

He rolled off me and let out one of his singsong chuckles. I wanted to thank him for tonight, but wherever I was felt so far away that the real world was out of my reach. 

I thought I heard him call me beautiful over and over again but I was fast asleep before my brain could pick it.

_

The next morning had me running out of there, rushing to put my clothes on with as little noise as possible, shoes in my hands as I promised myself that I’d never be caught dead with that man, and this was just a slip in my reasoning. I checked the room one last time to see if I cleared it of any trace of me. 

“This is a one-time thing, and you’d never have to see that man ever again” I whispered to myself as soon as I stepped out of the building, blinking the sunlight out of my eyes.

Time to face the real world and tackle whatever it brings head on.