here?” the photographer asked.
I started to turn toward him when I felt arms wrap around my neck. The next thing I knew, lips were pressed against mine. I was in so much shock, I froze. But the second those soft lips moved, and I registered the way Sasha’s body was melting against mine, I acted purely on instinct. Just like I had when I’d caught the garter.
One arm wrapped around her waist and I hauled her body closer to mine. The other threaded in her hair, my fingers clutching the back of her head, tilting it up further.
When I did that, she gasped, and her lips parted. My tongue slid between her pillow-soft lips and I tasted the sweet tang of sherbet ice cream punch mixed with something stronger. If I had to guess I would say vodka.
As the kiss deepened, my body surged with arousal. Every single muscle, and fiber of my being was tense with awareness. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so alive. So intense.
I felt Sasha’s arms wrap around my neck, pulling me down further. I clutched her hair, fisting it in my hand as I explored every inch of her mouth. Her expert tongue met me lick for lick. Our mouths aligned perfectly as if they’d both been made for this exact purpose.
I lost all track of time, of my surroundings, of anything else existing. Just like when I’d looked at her, but even more than that. It felt as if this kiss had pulled me into an alternate reality.
It wasn’t until I heard cheers erupting around us that I remembered where I was. Reluctantly, I pulled back from her. When she looked up into my eyes, I could see that she was just as disoriented as I felt.
People began crowding around us and she stepped out of my arms. I heard my name being called and I looked over my shoulder for a split second and when I looked back, she was gone.
I stood on the dance floor in a stunned silence, not sure of what had just happened, but damn sure I wanted it to happen again.
Chapter 7
Sasha
“When you’re walkin’ a tight rope, the last thing you should do is start runnin’.”
~ Barbara-Jean Nelson
A loud crash jerked me awake and my eyes flew open. My heart was pounding and I tried to swallow, but my mouth felt like I’d eaten a bag full of cotton balls. Also, I would swear that someone had Innerspace-style-shrunk and was now jackhammering my brain. Actually, it sounded like there was an entire construction site in my head.
Had I been drugged?
My character on Sunset Bay had been, several times, and this was exactly what I’d imagined it feeling like.
Who would have drugged me?
My arm flopped to the other side of the bed, and I didn’t feel anyone there. Okay, so I was alone. And I could move, so unlike my character Alexis I had not been tied up.
Where was I?
I lifted my head or tried to, at least. It felt like it was filled with sandbags that were weighing it down. And my eyelids felt like they were scraping sandpaper as I peeled them open. For a moment everything was blurry. I could see shapes and a little bit of color. Pink. I saw a lot of pink.
After blinking several times, things began to come into focus. The walls were lined with pale pink flamingo wallpaper that had seen better days. It was peeling at the seams. A lone oak dresser sat below a window with paisley curtains drawn over it. And in the corner stood an oscillating fan that had a ribbon fluttering in front of it as it turned.
Nothing looked familiar.
I was trying to retrace my steps when the door flew open. I winced as the sound that I’d been attributing to a Honey-I-Shrunk-the–Kids-sized man mowing a lawn across my brain grew louder. Gam appeared in the doorway pushing the wand of a vacuum cleaner and dragging the bulky, olive green canister it was attached to behind her.
At least I knew where I was now. I was at Gam’s. I must be in the guest room.
“Oh good you’re up!” she shouted to be heard over the loud motor.
“I am now,” I mumbled, lying back down.
“I thought you were going to sleep the day away.” The vacuum was still running as she rested the wand against the wall and thrust the curtains open, causing sunlight to pour in through the oversized window. Out of sheer