COMFORT
By Missy Maxim
Published by Missy Maxim at Smashwords.
Copyright 2010 Missy Maxim
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The right of Missy Maxim to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First printed 2010
First Edition
All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental.
COMFORT
Corinne Larkin tried to enjoy the party at the club. Her crush’s teen little sis wanted her birthday party someplace cool and pretty much had her big brother wrapped around her little finger.
She couldn’t get Mike to loosen up and enjoy it, though. He watched his sister and her friends like a hawk.
She approached him from the front, knowing it wasn’t wise to spook him when he was like this. A relatively slow song had just started playing over the sound system.
“Dance with me?”
“Have to watch the kiddies, Doc. There are plenty of blokes around,” he replied absently, not really paying attention.
“You can be spared for one dance, Mike. Besides, everybody here is at least five years younger than me. I feel like a freakin’ mom.”
He finally actually looked at her, eyes raking over the tank top and denim skirt she was wearing.
“Were you wearing a skirt at the house?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, Mike. You were just too busy glaring at Donna’s male friends to notice. Forget I asked.”
She turned and stalked off, melting into the crowd.
He frowned, confused why she was upset. Well, maybe she was upset. You never could be sure with females. This was probably one of those times he was supposed to compliment her outfit. His ex always made him notice when she wore something new.
He mentally shrugged and focused back on the girls in Donna’s group.
Corinne stomped back up the stairs with a scowl and a drink. Her best friend, Sarah, looked concerned.
“I thought you didn’t drink?”
“I don’t,” she replied, and took a long sip of the fruity cocktail she was holding. “But, I’m going to die from boredom if I don’t find something fun to do. Figure this will at least make me not care as much.”
“Okay…did something happen down there?”
“Nope. Just boredom. This is pretty good…can’t even taste the alcohol.”
“Just be careful…”
“Sarah, I’m twenty-five. I know my limits. I’m just trying to relax, okay?”
“Alright,” the blonde replied, though she didn’t look wholly convinced.
Corinne bobbed her head to the music as she sipped her drink, then decided to get another. She wanted to be just drunk enough for a pleasant buzz. She wrote down a recipe on a napkin, then passed it to the bartender.
“Can you make that?”
“Pretty close, just don’t have the fruit slices.”
“That’s okay. Just use juice, then. The flavor’s important, not the texture.”
He nodded and started mixing things for the blender. She smiled. The part Grey Goose vodka, part Grand Marnier, part orange concentrate, part juice concoction was extra orangey, with a kick. The extra sweetness disguised the strong alcohols.
When she rejoined Sarah, her friend wrinkled her nose.
“I can smell the alcohol from here! What is that?”
She twirled the cherry around in the liquid so it would soak up some of the flavor.
“A ‘Bloody Orange’. Would you believe the bartender actually had squeezed blood orange juice? Just my luck that he grows them in his backyard. Wanna sip?” At her friend’s dubious look, she added, “Oh, come on! You drank Guinness on a dare from Mike without even flinching. This tastes way smoother than that!”
Not one to back down from a dare, Sarah took the glass and sipped the drink. Her sinuses cleared instantly and her throat was warm all the way down to her stomach.
“Wow…that kinda burns.”
“Really? My college roommate used to make them after we took our tests. I guess I just got used to it. It was the only time I drank. I didn’t have time for a hangover.”
“What’s in it?”
“40% liquors, orange juice concentrate, and blood orange juice, if you can find them. Frozen fruit slices make it a slushy,” Corinne replied cheerfully. She was on her way to ‘giddy’. “They charge too much for the alcohol, though. Guess I’m not showing enough cleavage,” she pouted.
She took another swallow from the 12-ounce glass, lowering the level noticeably.
“You wanna dance?”
Sarah shook her head. “I’d rather keep an eye on the girls. Andrew and Yana probably aren’t helping much.”
“Sheah! Yeah… Probably off fucking in the bathroom. Okay, I’m heading into the breach. God, I hope there’s someone cute!”
She all but bounced down the stairs, her dark auburn waves swaying with the music.
Sarah started to wish she could communicate telepathically with Mike.
Corinne bumped into a sweaty Donna on the dance floor.
“Ooo, is that orange juice?”
“Partly. Stick to water, or sodas. Having fun?”
“Oh, yeah! Despite my bodyguard glaring at all the boys…”
She turned and stuck her tongue out at Mike, who rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, he’s a definite party pooper. Have you seen anyone older and cute down here? I wanna dance,” the doctor stated.
“The college guys left to play pool when the band went off. Try flirting over there.”
“Thanks!”
Corinne sauntered toward the back of the club where tables were tucked under the balcony portion.
She stopped to tug her skirt down a little and tied the hem of her tank in a knot at her back, exposing the small stud in her belly button. Another leftover from college. A little dab of lip gloss on her bottom lip, and she was ready to find a prospect. Her eyes scanned the pool tables, then the guest tables beyond them.
Bingo.
Shy-looking kid with half-rimmed glasses reading a book.
She was curious what he could possibly be trying to read in the dim light of the club. It wasn’t even Friday night, so he couldn’t be using the book as a pick-up tool.
He was cute, she noticed as she got closer, with boyish features and a casual style. She slid into the seat across from his and smiled.
British Lit, huh. Probably an English major.
“Hi. What’s your name?” she asked.
“M-me?” he asked, surprised, pointing a finger at his chest.
“Mmm-hmm. It’s a bit dark in here to study, and noisy.”
He blushed. “Oh, I, uh… I got invited out for a game, but, well, I’m not very good…a-and this is better than being at the dorm…”
“It’s okay. I was a workaholic through college, too. So, should I call you Mr. British Lit, or do you have a name?” she teased.
“Thomas,” he replied, still looking down at the table more than at her.
Poor kid seemed painfully shy. Well, she could see about giving him a confidence boost for the night.
“I always liked the name Thomas. Would you like to dance?”
“With you? N-no, I c-couldn’t… I’ll probably step all over your feet…” he stuttered, and blushed again.
Corinne stood, leaving her empty glass on the table. She stopped in front of him and tugged on his hand.
“I’ll forgive you. Would you like to dance with me?”
“V-very much,” he murmured at the table.
“Then come on. I promise to keep it easy.”
He stood with another tug on his hand, tucking the book in his back pocket.
Not bad, she thought, seeing the rest of him.
The boy was about six-feet-tall, decent build, wearing a navy polo tee and jeans. She thought he might have light-colored eyes, but it was hard to tell in this light.
She led him around the tables toward the dance floor until they were part of the crowd, where she draped her arms around his neck. He brought his hands up to rest lightly on her back, barely touching her. She swayed with the beat, and he soon caught on.
“I-I haven’t done this much,” Thomas admitted.
“Well, you’re doing fine. Were you reading the book for pleasure or a class?”
“Both. I’m an English major. I plan to teach.”
“My mother was a teacher. I have a lot of respect for those who go into it for the right reasons. You cover a fair bit of poetry in class, right?”
“Oh, yes…many authors,” he replied.
Something he was passionate about. Good.
“Well, part of reading poetry is figuring out the rhythm…same with music. You just listen to the basic rhythm, and you’ll stay with the beat just fine.”
“I never looked at it that way…but you’re right. Music and poetry are in essence the same…even entwined. May I ask your name?”
Aww, he was so polite. It was adorable.
“Corinne. How long have you been at the university?”
“I-I’m a freshman,” he muttered down at his shoes.
She lifted his chin.
“Hey, don’t be ashamed of being young. This is a very memorable, exciting part of your life. You’re ahead of the game just by knowing what you want to do,” she assured him.
“Thank you… Corinne. It’s kind of you to say, but…why me?”
“Because I wanted to dance with someone who wouldn’t be a jerk, and you’re cute.”
“But you’re so beautiful!” he blurted out, his eyes widening with horror a second later and his face turning an even deeper shade of red.
“Thank you,” she said. “Though, I have to admit, you’re seeing me at my best compared to when I’m at work. I don’t get compliments often.” The song changed to a faster one, and he started to pull away. “Ah-uh…you’re not getting away, yet. Remember, just feel the rhythm.”
She danced closer to the boy, encouraging him to sway with her. Once he started to loosen up, she turned in his arms and leaned against his chest as she moved. She could feel his heart pounding through his chest and encouraged his grip to tighten. Yeah, she was being a tease, but the kid needed to know that a woman could be interested in him.
In a few years, once he had some confidence, he’d do fine in the dating scene. She tilted her head up and pulled his down so she could whisper in his ear.
“You’re doing fine, Thomas. Are you having fun?”
He nodded, not trusting his voice to speak. She smiled and brushed a kiss over the boy’s pulse point. His gasp made her smile widen. The next song was a hip-hop bouncy number, which she so wasn’t interested in, so she tugged him into the alcove under the stairs.
“C-Corinne…”
“Shhh. You were very sweet to dance with me. Would you like me to be your girl, just for tonight, while we’re in this club?” she whispered huskily.
He trembled under her hands, and whispered, “Yes.”
She smiled, and rose on her toes to kiss him. It took a couple seconds for him to respond, and then it was tentative. She coaxed him slowly, but he was a fast learner, his arms finally wrapping around her back to pull her closer as he moaned into the kiss.
Oh, some woman would have fun teaching him the ropes later.
He responded with such earnest passion, completely unmarred by jaded experiences. She was enjoying the lesson, though it didn’t stir her heart. It was just good to feel powerfully feminine again.
Right up until she was yanked away from Thomas by her elbow.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mike growled.
“Kissing a cute guy. Piss off.”
“Are you…are you drunk?”
“No! I was having fun, until you interrupted!”
“I-I think the lady wants to be left a-alone,” Thomas said from behind her.
“Piss off, boy! You’re done here,” he snarled. “You’re picking up virgins now?” he taunted Corinne.
“Hey!” she and Thomas exclaimed. “He’s a nice guy who was nice enough to dance with me, unlike some people. Go away, Mike. You have a job to do, remember?”