Pretend With Me (Midnight Society #1) (36 page)

The dress I was wearing tonight was a black, strapless,
puffy affair, paired with plain white gloves that went up to
my elbows. The dress had a heart shaped neckline and
reached just a few inches over my knees. This too was
simple; there weren’t any sort of workings on it. My
jewelry however, was over the top. I had on flashy
diamond earrings that dangled from my earlobes, necklaces
and hand bands, all of them real.

Taking one last look at myself, I huffed out a breath
and walked out of my bedroom. Eric had already gotten
dressed and he was supposed to be waiting downstairs for
me. However, instead of walking to the staircase, I found
myself heading towards Christy’s bedroom. It was almost
half nine so she was probably asleep by now, but I wanted
to check in on her.

Without knocking on her door – just in case she was
asleep – I opened it and walked into the room, only to find
her sitting on her bed in total darkness, staring straight at
me. “Jenifer,” she beamed as soon as I walked into the
room and immediately a smile pierced my lips.

“I thought you were asleep,” I whispered, switching on
the lights and then walking over to her bed, kneeling in
front of her.

“I know,” she grinned. “I knew you’d come… You
look like a princess from Thirdworld… so pretty…” she
trailed off, raising a hand and palming my cheek. “I love
you, Jenifer,” she hugged me.

Another smile colored my face and pure love for her
flowed through my body. Suddenly I found myself slowly
beginning to feel better. It was like the sadness inside me
was drifting away.

“I love you too, baby,” I whispered and then laid her
on the bed, tucked her in and started for the staircase.
Eric looked breathtaking in his tux and I couldn’t look
away. I mean, Eric in a t-shirt and jeans was hot, but Eric
in a suit was mouth-wateringly sexy, and I literally couldn’t
stop myself from staring at him. He was clean-cut, radiated
power and strength, and he had me dazed more than I
thought possible. Just when I think I couldn’t be more
attracted to him, he does this to me.
“Thanks,” he grinned at my side, as he draped his arm
around my waist leading me towards his car. “So I should
wear suits more often, then?” his grin widened as he
stopped at the passenger’s side of the car.
Instead of getting in, I turned to face him and found
myself trapped between his body and the car. I could smell
his seductive scent wrapping around me and already it had
me floating on cloud nine. My throat went dry as I stepped
closer, eliminating most of the space between us. Not
being able to help myself, I tiptoed, pressing my lips to his.
My eyes closed automatically, as my hands unclenched
at my sides, gripping onto the lapels of his jacket, pulling
him closer to me. I couldn’t think; I couldn’t breathe; I
could only hold onto him and hope by the grace of God
that the heat sizzling in my veins didn’t consume me.
Where I started the kiss, Eric deepened it as his hands
trailed up the sides of my body to my neck. He held my
face in place as he kissed me like tonight was our last night
on Earth. It seemed like every part of me was alive right
now. My entire body buzzed and tingled from just being
touched by him. Where his skin met mine, left my own
skin heated, and made my blood boil inside my veins. It
ignited a fire within me that I really couldn't explain. Right
now, I wanted nothing more than to drag Eric back inside
the house and do things to him that I'd never own up to.
“God,” Eric groaned, as he pulled away from me,
breaking the kiss. “You have a really dirty mind, Jen,” he
grinned, making me blush. I pulled my lower lip between
my teeth and bit down hard so I wouldn't give into the
urge to show him just how dirty my mind was.
“Sorry,” I shrugged at him. “But you wearing a suit
does to me, what I do to you wearing lingerie...” I
admitted, blushing deeper.
“I’ve never seen you in lingerie…” he frowned at me.
“Really?” I smirked at him as I thought about what I
was wearing under the dress. I pushed the thought towards
him as hard as I could and the second he saw what I
wanted him to, Eric's jaw literally dropped and crashed to
the floor.
“Well fuck…” he trailed off and before I could say
anything, he pulled me towards him, kissing me again. This
time the kiss was hard and desperate, and suddenly I found
myself pressed against the car and Eric's body at the same
time. I wasn't complaining though, in fact I wanted
nothing more than to eliminate any space between us.
With every second that his hands were on my body, I
felt the fire inside me growing hotter and stronger, but
before I could really act on the impulse to tear his clothes
away, he pulled away once again breaking the kiss.
“You don’t know how much I hate having to go to this
ball right now,” he grinned at me as he opened the door of
the car, waiting for me to get in.
“I have a very good idea,” I laughed, getting into the
car. Sighing, I watched as Eric closed my door, and then
walked around to his side. As he got into the car, his scent
attacked me and I could only think one thing; the ride to
school, was going to be very long and very hard.
The gym looked amazing. Amelia and Emily had done
an excellent job. Stringed lights hung from the ceiling by
the thousands, making it look like stars shining in the
darkest night. Metallic black and white balloons covered
the walls and created archways at every exit and entrance
of the gym.
Polished wood was placed in the middle of the room to
create a huge dance floor and around that, closer to the
walls were tables and chairs. Instead of the wooden
flooring, thick white carpet was placed there. Everything
was breathtaking.
Eric and I talked to the other board members of the
school and faculty for a while. Well in truth, Eric talked to
them while I stood at his side, watching him in his
element. Seeing him tonight, with these people, was like
watching a different person. It wasn’t that he was rude or
anything, but seeing him being able to blend so well with
people of such a different class than I was, made me
realize just how high society he was.
After he’d talked to everyone he needed to, we got
drinks – there was no alcohol and no student here had
thought to spike the punch either – and was heading to a
table at the back of the room, when Charde stopped us,
pointing towards the dance floor where Emily and Amelia
were already swaying to the music. I bit down on my lip
turning back to face Eric. I would really rather stay here
with him. Seeing this Charde grabbed both of my hands
and pulled me away, leading me to the dance floor. I
turned looking back to Eric longingly, only to see him
chuckling at me.
Our separation was short-lived though, because about
five minutes later, I felt Eric’s hands snake around my
waist from behind and I leaned into him, pressing my body
to his as we swayed. He leaned down and I felt his lips
brush against the side of my neck so gently it was almost
as if it never happened. The touch left my skin burning
and sent tingles and shivers running down my body, all the
way to my toes.
“The next song is yours,” he whispered in my ear and
almost as if on cue the song On My Way by Machel
Montano, a Trinidadian soca singer came on, blasting
through the air. Since the song was Trinidadian, I hadn’t
heard it in a long while, but that hadn’t stopped me from
singing it while I was doing random stuff. I absolutely
loved it and for Eric to actually take the time to find out
about it and have the DJ play it was amazing. It was the
sweetest thing.
I stopped moving instantly and turned to him. “Oh my
God, I love you!” I squealed, not being able to stop
smiling as I literally jumped him, wrapping my hands and
legs around his body. His hands caught and held me to his
body instantly.
It was a few seconds later that I realized what I said to
him and the moment I did, I froze, my entire body going
tense and stiff. I pulled my head back, staring at his face
not knowing what I was supposed to say or do. I had just
told Eric I loved him… What did I do now? “I mean,” I
began without the slightest hint of how I was going to
explain this. “It’s just that you… I mean I…You and…
the song… and I…” I trailed off, my mind going around
in circles. I couldn’t think straight.
“Hey relax,” he chuckled, amusement lighting up his
face. “I know.” Still lost for words, I inhaled sharply
pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. I was horrified.
“But it was hilarious watching you try to explain though,”
he laughed at me.
Not thinking I unwound my hands from around him
and slapped his shoulder lightly, forcing my facial
expression to be as serious as I could manage. Then,
without giving him a chance to say anything I leaned into
him, pressing my lips to his and at once pure lust and
desire coursed through my body. Suddenly every part of
me wanted to start shredding our clothes slowly. I
tightened my legs around his waist, molding myself to him.
My fingers snaked through his hair, tangling there. The
passion was hot and raw. It was something that made my
insides burn w ith the need to touch him all over.
We broke away from each other panting. I kept my
eyes closed and pressed my forehead against his, trying to
get my breath back, breathing in his addictive scent. Each
time I inhaled, I felt the wildfire within me grow a little. It
replaced the blood running in my veins and made the ache
for him turn into an unbearable need. I opened my eyes
looking at him with pure lust and raw desire. I couldn’t
take it anymore.
“Take me home, Eric,” I whispered, biting my lower
lip.
A wide smile spread across his lips as he caught on. “I
should bribe DJs more often,” he chuckled and lowered
me to the ground, back on my feet, taking my hand
securely in his.
We were almost out of the hall when the starry,
twinkling lights around us flickered and then the entire
room went completely black. Simultaneously the music
died, instantly plunging the room in loud silence. I stood
absolutely still, clutching onto Eric’s hand as panic slowly
began seeping into my body. I didn’t like the dark – it
made me feel powerless and uncertain. Almost as if he
could sense the panic threatening to take me over, Eric’s
hand tighten around my own as he gently tugged me closer
to him.
“Eric,” I breathed out heavily, my voice loud in the
stillness.
“Don’t freak out, but we need to leave.” I didn’t have
to see his face to know that something was about to
happen. I could hear the underlining message in his voice,
the caution and urgency was thick in his tone and instantly
I knew; Zane was here. Before I could say or do anything
Eric’s grip on my hand tightened almost to the point of
him crushing my fingers together, and then he was pulling
me through the darkness.
That was when it happened. Almost as if our
movement had triggered a domino effect, the blackness
around us came alive with screams shattering the silence. It
only lasted seconds and then the room went deathly quiet
again and the overhead lights flashed on, blinding me. For
a moment all I could do was stop, blinking at the sudden
brightness, then as my vision slowly cleared and focused,
and I took in the sight before me, my breathing stopped.
Another, stronger dose of panic exploded through my
veins, this time bringing anger with it. I could feel my heart
pounding in my chest as I stared across the room at Zane.
Everyone else was gone except Jason, Emily, Eric, and I,
and we were completely surrounded by Zane’s pack of
freaks.
They stood, silent and frozen in dark cloaks almost
looking like angels of death. To the far side of the room,
thrown carelessly into a corner were my friends along with
everyone else who’d attended the Ball, lying motionless. I
had no idea whether they were dead or unconscious.
A wide smile spread across Zane’s lips as he took me
in, and I swallowed loudly. A huge part of me was terrified
of him. I wanted to sink into the floor and disappear so he
couldn’t hurt me again, but there was also a growing part
of me that was angry - a part that wanted to go crazy with
rage and rip him to tiny bite size pieces for what he did;
for what he was doing right now. At my side, Eric released
my hand and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me
towards him protectively.
Zane’s smile brightened with excitement as his eyes
shifted from me to Eric, and then back to me. “You know
you can’t protect her, right?” he said flatly, his eyes
focused on Eric. “You should just give her up now. I
mean, there’s no way you’re walking out of this building
with her.”
“Really?” Eric asked.
“Look around you Wilson, I have an army, you’re
surrounded. With your gifts… certainly you already know
how this is going to end…”
“I do,” Eric nodded as his hand loosened from around
my waist and I forced my eyes away from Zane, slowly
turning to face Eric. What was he doing? Was he giving me
up? Had he finally had enough and was now going to let
Zane have me? I couldn’t blame him. I understood why.
Ever since I came into his life, I had brought nothing
but pain and worry. All I did was hurt him, put him
through so much misery when he did nothing to deserve
any of it. My past had corrupted his life so I completely
understood why he would want to rid himself of me, but it
still hurt.
It hurt because no matter what I told him or what I
told myself, I loved Eric Wilson. It crushed me because as
much as I loved Daren, I also loved Eric. He was a part of
me - body and soul, and seeing him give me away to a man
we both knew was going to end my life was the ultimate
defeat.
My throat burned with the need to cry, but I wasn’t
going to - I knew this day would come eventually. I took a
deep breath as the tears welled up in my eyes. I didn’t want
to let him go - I couldn’t have my heart broken and
shattered a second time. I guess it was a good thing that
Zane was here. At least this time around, I wouldn’t have
to live through that pain again.
His hands slowly unwrapped from around me and with
each tiny movement he made to release me another crack
broke into my body. This was it, the moment that I had
been expecting since I had grown attached to him. My
entire body stiffened as he took my hand in his and g ently
pushed me back so that he was now shielding me from
Zane.
Tears rolled down my face as I realized what his
movements meant. Eric wasn’t giving me up. He was
doing the exact opposite - he was protecting me from
Zane. He moved me so his body now shield ed mine. I
gripped his hand tighter as a wave of relief came over me.
He wasn’t leaving me - he was never going to leave me.
“Hmm… romantic,” Zane chuckled, his voice breaking
through my thoughts. I could hear the pleasure behind his
words and I peeked out from behind Eric to see the wide,
amused smile slapped onto his face as he stared back at us.
“You honestly aren’t giving her up? Seriously?” he
frowned. “You and your little sidekicks are just going to
die too. Not that I have a problem with killing you but,”
his frowned deepened, “you’re a pureblood… killing you
means starting a war I have no intention of fighting. You’ll
be the cause of thousands of Thirdworld lives lost. Can
you live with that?”
Zane was right. If Eric didn’t give me up he was going
to die tonight. My heart sped up as that thought sunk in. I
could hear it banging against my ribcage, shooting
adrenaline through my body. Zane and his pack were
going to kill us. There were so many of them and just four
of us, and I was practically useless. There was no way that
Jason, Emily, and Eric could stand against all of them and
survive. They would die and I couldn’t let that happen.
Too many people had already foolishly stood up to Zane
trying to help me and died.