Spike drops the pointy tips into his pocket, and then he pulls out a condom, rolling it over his length as he watches me, his eyes hooded and lusty. When he’s sheathed, he shifts out of his jeans and drops down over the top of me. His mouth finds mine, hot and desperate, and my fingers go up to grip his hair. I tug the thick locks, bringing his mouth down over mine so hard my lips burn. He slides a hand down my leg, gripping my thigh and lifting it over his hip. His fingers reach down and slip my panties aside, and something about that has my body coming to life. It’s so dirty, and quick, and fucking erotic. Then he’s pressing against me, his hard cock probing my entrance. I groan and wrap my other leg around him, encouraging him down. I want him now. Inside me. All over me. Everywhere.

He gently pushes the head in, and the sensational feeling of burning and pleasure that shoots through my body is what I’ve been waiting for all these years. I close my eyes and drop my head back onto the grass. His lips find my throat as he pushes in, stretching and filling me until he’s in so deep, his balls rub gently against my ass. We both growl, raw and primal. He jerks his hips, sliding his length out and slamming it back in. I can feel every one of those piercings, rubbing against me, stirring those sensitive nerves inside my body. My nails scrape against his scalp as I tighten my grip in his hair, arching my back to offer him my exposed nipple.

“So fuckin’ dirty baby, you’re fuckin’ beautiful.”

He closes his lips over my nipple and picks up his pace, thrusting deep and hard, slapping against me and driving into me desperately. My legs are around his waist, my hands in his hair, my mouth on his neck, licking the salty slickness off as he picks up the pace, bringing me to the edge. No man, god, not one, has ever brought me this close to the edge so quickly. Spike’s cock works me, his body works mine, his lips cause me to drown, to forget, to just feel. I feel him. All of him. Every god damned beautiful inch. I teeter on the edge of orgasm, my body shaking violently as I inch closer and closer with each, hard thrust.

“Come for me Tom Cat, fuckin’ come around my cock.”

“God, Spike, yes.”

“Say my name baby, fuckin’ say it.”

“Spike,” I rasp.

“No, the other one. Say my real name,” he growls, thrusting harder.

“Danny,” I scream, my orgasm tearing through me like liquid fire. “God, Danny.”

“Yes, fuck, yes,” he roars, thrusting harder and harder until he’s joining me in release.

His body jerks, and he throws his head back, growling loudly as his cock begins to pulse inside me. I clench and squeeze, shuddering and crying out as we both wring each other dry.

His body slumps down on mine, and his damp forehead rests on my chest. We’re both breathing heavily, our bodies still trembling. I take his head, wrapping my fingers around it and holding him close for a few moments. When we’re both able to move, he rolls over and lands on the grass, taking me into his arms. I stare up at the stars, for the moment, completely content.

“Fuck, Tom Cat. You changed.”

“You said that already,” I whisper.

“Yeah, but fuck...didn’t realize how much it was goin’ to change this...”

“What’s this?” I say, swallowing.

“Don’t fuckin’ know, kid.”

Neither did I.

That was the scary thing.

CHAPTER 8

PAST - CIARA

Danny spins me, and my yellow summer dress flicks out. I squeal, tightening my arms around his neck. His laugh fills my ears, and the music pulses through my body. I feel so alive - everything is just so light and easy.

Danny and I have been dancing for the last two hours, twirling and laughing like two teenagers. It’s our friend, Sally’s, twenty-first birthday, and so we joined her at her fifties dress up party. Danny places me on my feet, and I spin happily. I grip his shoulders, grinning up at him. He looks gorgeous in his suit. It’s not something you would expect to see Danny wearing, and yet he manages to pull it off perfectly.

“Need another drink, Tom Cat. You want one?” he says, staring down at me with those deep, brown eyes.

“Please.”

He winks at me and turns, walking off into the crowd. I smile at his back, and then I spin on my heel and run straight into my sister. I yelp and leap backwards.

“Jesus, Cheyenne, why do you sneak up on me like that?”

She laughs softly, and waves her hand. I can tell by the way she’s swaying, that she’s well on her way to being extremely drunk. Her hair is curled and the tiny, flared, black dress she’s wearing barely covers her underwear.

“Where’s Spike?”

I hate that she calls him that. Like she knows something about him that I don’t. Something that he won’t share with me. It burns me, deep to my very core, because he won’t let me see the side of him I know she’s seen: the hard, rugged, side that is so clearly in there.

“He’s getting a drink, and his name is Danny.”

She giggles. “Not what he told me.”

“Why are you trying so hard to get his attention anyway?” I ask, swiping some damp hair from my forehead.

Cheyenne has been determined to get close to Danny from the moment she met him. Her claws are out, and she’s not backing down.

“Why does it matter to you? I thought you two were only friends? Or maybe you’re jealous because you want him for yourself...”

“We are just friends!” I say quickly. “I don’t care what you do. If you want him, go for it. I don’t have feelings for Danny.”