Chasing Beautiful (Chasing Series #1) (5 page)

I knew he was somewhere outside, possibl
y sucking face and swapping spit with his BB, but I couldn’t help it. I was home, and being home just makes me want Kyle,
badly
.

Maybe I’m nostalgic
’cause I haven’t been laid in what, like nine months? Who knows?

“
Hi! My name’s James—dance with me?” he asked smoothly.

Hmm
, not bad looking. Quite decent actually—not like Kyle but decent enough and he seemed nice.

“
Sure, James,” I smiled at him as he twirled me around and my back landed on his chest. That was impressive. This man could dance. The DJ changed up the music to some Raggaeton song with Pitbull singing
Go Girl
and the tempo started to pick-up as did we. Raggaeton music’s for sensual dancing. It was more for showing your skills with popping your hips and being sexy.

I separated myself from James and faced him.
His eyes were all over my body and that gave me ammunition to get down and dance more. “So, Sienna—where do you live? Somewhere close by?”

“I did—I
’m on vacation. Home is London—for now,” as my eyes scanned the crowd. The song ended and I found Jen across from me watching us intently with drinks in hands.

“
Goodness, Sienna Richards! You know, everyone was checking you out? You looked…
sooo…sooo
hot dancing in there! I was even getting hot and bothered watching you two dance—and that’s saying something!
Was that to show someone that you still got your groove on? Hmmm?
”

I laughed.

Oh Jen! How right you are.
I shook my head in denial and smiled innocently.

“And who might you be?”
she asked James who unknowingly followed me.

Cute.

“I’m James,” who was about five ten, muscled, dirty blonde hair spiked, with boyish good looks. 

“
Where are you from?” Jen quipped. Knowing how she works, she’d have him thoroughly grilled about his life in five minutes. We’re protective of each other so we tend to do this with most men we meet.

Enthusiastically
, I freed her hand of the Lemon Drop and took the tequila shot she was holding out to me.

My,
that burns.

I
welcomed the warm feeling it gave my body as I murmured “Thanks.” She didn’t seem to hear me because she was still busy talking to James.

I, on the other hand, was busy scanning the room to see a familiar face. Okay, I’m guilty. I want
ed to see more of Kyle and what he was up to, but he was nowhere to be seen. I just couldn’t believe he was being cold and indifferent towards me. What was that whole introduction scene with Brook, anyway? If he wanted me to think that he had moved on and was happier, then he definitely succeeded in getting his message across.

I decided right then and there that I wouldn’t think about him anymore.
Maybe this whole trip for getting closure from Kyle was just stupid and irrevocably irreparable. I couldn’t torture myself with the thoughts of him with his girlfriend kissing and groping each other somewhere in a dark corner outside. All I had to do is endure this night and move on, but for the mean time—I had to hold my head high—even if I was anguished, my heart gutted and intestines twisted inside out. Or I could possibly take Blake’s offer. I could drown myself happily just staring at him.

Was
this jealousy I felt? Or was it merely an indication that I was still
in
love with Kyle?

I
love him. I’ve loved him all my life but
in love with him?
I’m not so sure. I mean—
if
I was dangerously in love with him—then I wouldn’t have left him,
surely?
I would have found a way to still be next to him—or simply endure being miserable in Los Angeles if it meant being with him. 

I miss him and I’m mad that he ended our friendship like
that. I want to salvage our friendship, if nothing else.

Would I want him back if he beg
ged me?
I don’t know
. My mind couldn’t process the possibility of us getting back together when it was blatantly apparent that he was in a happy, satisfying relationship.

Before I left home,
I made that whole spiel of loving him, but I felt that I needed freedom. I desperately sought change, away from my horrid miserable past with my extended family and the memory of my dad.

Kyle
took it badly when he learned of my plan, of course; he was crazy about me. We were inseparable then—we finished each other’s sentences. We were happy together, but my soul needed something more, to feel free, free from memories of my past.

So
, my announcement to go to school in England was a surprise to everybody—most of all to Kyle. He didn’t speak to me for days. He felt betrayed and implied I was giving up on us, our relationship.

Distraught and wounded, he
stuck it out until I left for school, showing me how much he loved me. Those few weeks before my departure were bittersweet. I remembered having a hard time letting him go at the airport, clutching and hugging him so fiercely.

The memo
ries brought a melancholy sigh and my attention back to reality.

“
Well it was great to meet you, James,” Jen said politely. I was still reeling from my nostalgic flood of flashbacks—swamped with the thoughts of what might’ve been—my mind shuffled back to the past and lost track—that I was here—in the middle of a damn party.

“
Doll, can I speak to you for a sec?” she grabbed my hand and dragged me to a corner.

“
Sure, be back in a sec, James,” I gave him one of my melt-to-your-bones smiles or so-called effect I thought would do. It seemed to work from the look he gave me.

I needed a diversion
and the unfortunate victim was James. I needed to gather my bearings before I went ballistic with roaring jealousy and did something drastic to get Kyle’s attention—like going up to him and giving him a kiss—so scorching—it would haunt him forever.

So, I needed James tonight, for my sanity’s sake.

“Hey! What’s up?”  Questioning her with an arched brow, knowing full well what she wanted to speak to me about.

“I’m going to leave the party with, Ethan. He’s
off; another person is taking the shift so we decided to go grab something to eat somewhere. Will you be okay if I leave and you catch a ride with Mickey or something? If you can’t catch a ride—call me—and I’ll come get you.”

“
I take it Ethan’s the hot-tender right? Jen, seriously, go have fun. Don’t worry about me—I have
only
two weeks to party and back to school again, so I’ll be okay? Go enjoy yourself! I’ll see you tomorrow for catch-up and fro-yo, ’kay?” I hugged her and kissed her blushing cheek. It really bothered her leaving me here, but she’s not my sitter. As much as I love hanging out with Jen, she needs to enjoy and meet people. I wanted her to be happy, especially after Tony.

“Have fun, doll
,” I gave her a huge grin.

“
Will do! Alright, catch up with you tom! And be safe, kay? Call me if you need me—
anytime
.”

“See you!”
I shooed her away and went back to James, who was watching my interaction with Jen with hawk-like intensity.

“
Did anybody tell you how gorgeous and sexy you are?” His dark eyes traveled all over me like I was a piece of candy to be savored.

“
Are you just saying anything to get laid tonight? Because let me tell you, your line is way off the finishing line!” I instantly quipped back.

Ha! This is a merry-go-round play date buddy—nothing more,
I thought.

The last time I had sex
, or any
intimacy
for that matter, was with Kyle. It’s not that I didn’t find anyone attractive in London—apart from crushing on Blake—but that’s beside the point—he’s a friend. I went to a lot of house parties and met quite a few interesting and attractive men, but not one who gave me the I-can’t-breathe-and-think-around-you feeling. Maybe if I put myself out there instead of cutting them off before they even speak would make a vast difference.

Maybe I should take up Lucy’s offer of blind dates, just to dip my toes into the dating world.

Snapping back to reality, I gulped down the rest of my drink and placed it on the table next to me. The alcohol I had consumed was a potent mixture of vodka and tequila. A lethal combination—but it was a prerequisite of a person who was dealing with an emotional upheaval.

“
Come on, James. Dance with me.” I said invitingly. The music blared and my feet were itching to move on the dance floor and letting loose, my body speaking through the art of dancing.

We were setting our
rhythm and I danced against him, my back touching his chest. I let out a sigh.
Where was Kyle?
I thought sadly.
Stupid girl
!
Just let it go already
, I scolded myself.

The dance was getting intense and James
was gripping both of my hips, grinding and swaying slowly. I honestly didn’t care because I wanted to forget—even if for only a few minutes, then I’d go look for Mickey and ask him for a ride back to Jen’s apartment.

J
ames was getting
quite
comfortable. So comfortable in fact, that he was moving his hands up and down the side of my stomach.

“You’re so hot
; I want you,” he whispered in my ear. I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

Right
, not going there buddy.
I’m just using him temporarily for dancing, but nothing more.

Am I a tease?
Yes, definitely.
Do I feel guilty about it?
No, not really.

I closed
my eyes again feeling the beat and feeling the alcohol seeping its way through my body. I felt relaxed and smiled, rocking the smashing beat with James. He was actually a descent dancer.

I felt his lips kiss my
exposed shoulder, softly working towards my neck. His hot breath gave me a shudder. “James, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Out of nowhere, s
omeone yanked my right arm and dragged me away so quickly, my head spun. I barely got a chance to catch my breath.

Everything was a blur—from the dance floor—passing the living room and up the stairs. Stumbling
halfway up, I yelped from the tight hold on my arm.

I tried to detach his fingers—but he was too strong. His
fingers sunk deeper in my flesh, gripping it harder.

Sudden f
ear washed over my entire body.

It was too dark in
there, no light coming from the hallway or bedroom doors.

How am I supposed to take charge and free myself if I can’t see my attacker?
I freaked.

I told myself to calm down and breathe.

Breathe.

Think rationally, you can do this, Sienna.

I was trying to get
a handle on the situation and where the person was taking me. It was dark and it seemed like my abductor knew where he was going.

The
floor boards made a squeaking sound and the person holding my hand quickly turned around—whooshing air—
and there was the overpowering smell
—the smell I
knew
so well, making my throat constrict with familiarity.

Kyle
. What the fuck?!

“
Excuse me!
Where the hell do you think you’re taking me?!
How dare you Kyle!” unleashed fury roaring off me.

H
ow dare he manhandle me like that!

He opened a door and brashly shoved me inside with him.

I quickly scanned the room.

It
was dark but it was illuminated with the glowing light of the moon from the bay window. The room was quite large, but inhabited, a guest room perhaps.

I
slowly glanced back and found Kyle looking down at me, furious like I had never seen him before.

My heart slammed wildly against my chest.

“Are you trying to embarrass yourself,
SIENNA
?” he raged at me, face thunderous with seething anger. “Are you
trying
to prove something?” glaring and spitting fire, “Are you trying to prove that you’re a big girl, now? Taking offers and sampling men to your
liking
?”

Kyle was accusing and livid.

“Excuse me? I was dancing with James! Mind your own fucking business and go back to your
amazing
girlfriend!” screaming like a banshee at him, “
And if
—
I am taking offers and sampling them—it’s my goddamned business
. NOW, LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!” yelling with suppressed rage.