A Kiss For Your Freedom

I grab my bag and lock the door behind me. I really need this weekend. Even at work I'm making one stupid mistake after another. It's a good thing my sister's my boss or I'd have been fired days ago. She totally encouraged me when I asked for two days off - in fact, she offered me a week. In the car, Mélissa is overexcited at the idea of me following her, not that we've ever left everything behind for a party or a festival, but this is a bit like a reunion and I let myself go, forgetting abc this shitty week. I put my cell phone on silent. No matter how many times he calls, I won't hear a thing. In the car, we sing at the top of our lungs, laugh when one of us gets the lyrics wrong while the music's on full blast, have fun like we're 15 a not 25. When we arrive at the venue, I feel really different, like I'm finally breathing again, like I've found myself. There are stages everywhere, all playing different styles of music, while all around are hotel bars that are probably only used for this type event. The place is out of all proportion. It's like nothing I've seen in a long time. Melissa grabs my hand and pulls me behind her. ~ We'll put our things in our room,” she shouts over the deafening noise of the crowd. I follow her without question and as she guides me, I collide head-on with a young man. He's got great reflexes, catching me as I'm thrown off balance by the impact and letting go of Melissa's hand. I collide with his torso as he places his hand on the small of my back to prevent me from falling. As I raise my head, my gaze plunges into his before sliding onto his smile. - You never know who you might run into here. - Something tells me you're not the worst person I could run into,” I say, returning the smile. - Who knows, I could turn out to be dangerous. Very dangerous, especially when faced with such tempting prey as you. Is that 507 At no point do you imagine that I could be the more dangerous of the two of us. -1admit, I hadn't thought about it. But now that you mention it, maybe you are indeed the more dangerous of the two of us. Did you just get here? ~ I'm sorry I bumped into you, although I have to say it's not the worst thing that's happened to me lately. - Can I ask what your name is? - Emma and you? - Dorian. - Nice to meet you, Dorian. - Same here, Emma. I've got to go, my girlfriend's waiting for me. ~1 hope we'll bump into each other later. I'll be at the Latino stand,” he says, smiling at me. ~ Then we'll surely meet again, handsome, I can guarantee it," I say as Melissa calls me. I quickly find her and already I can see her smiling and winking at me. - Stop that right now. Did you see that guy? Seriously, what woman could turn her back on him without looking? - Well, I'd say me, but that's probably because my hormones are fine? I have no need for a wild, virile one-night stand thz makes you climb the curtains like never before. I have a very dedicated bartender next door. - Just listening to you, I could almost see myself in there," I say, laughing softly and slightly suspecting it, you little sneak I follow her blindly for a few minutes, until she stops in front of a huge building. A young man is at the reception desk. Mélissa hands him our reservations and he in turn gives us two keys. We listen to these vague explanations and after mo than five minutes of searching, we finally find our room. It's not luxurious, but it's good enough. Two beds, a small fridge and a hotplate for cooking. Behind a door, a shower cubicle. That's all we need for our short stay. We don't linger; I'm as eager as she is to see the various scenes. After a few minutes’ walk, we mingle with the crowd and stop in front of the first concert. The guitar chords electrify me, so much so that I freeze as I listen to the music. Melissa comes back, I hadn't even seen her disappear, and she brings me back a drink with a wink. ~ This is our weekend, sweetheart,” she says, handing it to me. - But the tattoo thing's still on. ~1 don't have my equipment. This weekend it's just us having a fiesta. - 50 here's to you. From the gleam in her eye, I should certainly be wary, but nevertheless, I trust her. That's certainly why I swallow my glass in one gulp. I came here for this. To free myself, to stop thinking. The liquid flows down my throat, hot, almost burning m on my first sip. Then the mood takes hold of us, and we both dance among the crowd that's beginning to gather. Time doesn't seem to matter here, as we move from stage to stage, mixing cocktail after cocktail. I don't even know how long I've been dancing, just laughing, enjoying myself, until I meet his gaze as we approach the Latino corner. Dorian. Thi guy is really too handsome, dark-haired with green eyes and a wild side I'd love to discover. Mélissa puts her hand on my shoulder before saying, - Go for it, darling, you've earned the right to have a little fun. He smiles at me, I really want to give in to temptation. I want to break the distance between us. He holds out a hand, inviting me to join him, and behind me, Melissa urges me on. My body takes action and I take one step, then another, before finding him again and grabbing his hand. He wraps his arm around the small of my back and leans into my ear, - What took you so long, Emma? ~The important thing is that I'm here now. - 50, how do you like this festival? ~ To tell you the truth, I was waiting to see you again to see if it was really worth it. - And now that you've seen me again? - I'm waiting to see if you can live up to my expectations. - A challenge,” he says, putting his free hand on the back of my neck to pull me a little closer to him. Do you like to dance - Are you a good partner? He holds me a little tighter before smiling. - You can't imagine how much. - Show me. His lips are so close to mine, his muscular body makes me shiver slightly, which seems to please him. He pulls me a little closer to the stage and the Latin music flows through us as our bodies begin to undulate. I let myself go, forgetting everything else except the intensity of his gaze. I love the way he looks at me, the way those eye pass over my lips, the way his skin brushes mine while he still has his hand in the small of my back. its really nice and, above all, he's right, he dances more than well. My arms go around his neck and it's his turn to shiver, smiling at me a little more. It's crazy how handsome he is, it's crazy how I can't see anything but him during these few minutes. POV Melissa I stand back and watch my best friend dance with this guy. I've no idea who he is, but in any case, it's been a long time since I've seen him so relaxed, smiling, I'd even say charming the way she’s dancing against him. I knew it would do her good, I knew she just needed to have a bit of fun, and she’s obviously off to a good start. I find her at last, after those long months when she was only a shadow of her former self, after having seen her slowly wither away, after having seen her give up and shut herself up in an illusory bubble. She never explained to me what happened that weekend. I know she went to a party organized by a company she works with, then I couldn't reach her for over two days. When she reappeared, she wasn't the same. Her gaze was pained, deadened. She stopped smiling, stopped laughing. To tell you the truth, I had the impression that she was nothing but ar empty shell. I did everything I could to get her to talk to me, but she never wanted to answer. But now, as she wraps her arms around my neck, I feel as if I've found her again. To see her again, like before that weeker when we spent whole evenings partying before going back to work the next day as if nothing had happened. He runs his hands over her arms, it's a quickie and she seems to like it, that's all that matters. The seduction game is on, and I know she’s very good at it. She knows how to do it, she knew how to have fun before. POV Emma My skin tingles as he caresses my arms. It's amazing how he can make me feel, and I have a feeling it's mutual, because i those eyes I can see a spark that seems to dance only for me. He runs his tongue over his lips, and for a brief moment, I can't take my eyes off the gesture. I want to taste him, to let myself go. His smile literally cracks me up; it's a real call to lust, and I have to say I really want to answer that call. His hand moves u my arm to my neck, where he takes a firm hold. My body wants him, theres no denying it. It feels like it's been ages since I've vibrated like this, since I've felt myself ignite like this. His breath caresses my lips, so close and yet so far away, still too far away. There are only a few centimeters to break, tho hips still undulating against mine. He rubs himself lasciviously against me, electrifying every part of my body that's alrea crying out for more. I tighten my grip around his neck, bringing us even closer if that's possible and finally, he breaks that fine distance. His li cover mine and this warmth, this ardor, makes me moan slightly. It feels so good, much better than I remember. His tong. asks for access, which I offer without the slightest hesitation. our lips move, our tongues caress as one of his hands tangles with my hair. There's no denying his talent. He's really talented, and deep down I hope his talents don't stop there. - Do you want to keep dancing, or can I buy you a drink? - That depends on where you're planning to buy me a drink.

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