Undead Love: A Post-Apocalyptic Romance Page 22

  “What’s taking him so long?” Ebony asked with a cup of wine in her hand, holding it in an elegant and sophisticated manner. If I had to guess, she was the older sister. She definitely seemed like a good match for my brother.

  “Who? Kirk?” Chris pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, surveying the room the same way he surveyed a chessboard. I wondered, for a moment, what he was looking for, but then it dawned on me that there wasn’t a single bookcase in this room. I smirked to myself, knowing Chris hated it when someone displaced his precious little books.

  “Whoever Joker is,” Ebony answered. “He corrals us into this room and then he just disappears. This doesn’t seem like a very fun game.”

  “Don’t be such a sour puss. You haven’t even given it a chance.” Essie poked her sister’s side. “I’m starting to think that I should have left you at home after all.”

  “I wish you had,” she returned, her expression stern and serious.

  “Ladies, ladies.” I placed a hand on their shoulders. “Let’s just try to have a good time tonight, alright? I’ll see if I can find Kirk and get this party started.”

  “Someone called?” A sing-song voice practically rang in my ear as Kirk materialized behind me.

  I startled, causing Essie to giggle slightly.

  “Kirk, what’s the holdup?” I asked, a little irritated that he had embarrassed me in front of Essie. The last thing I needed was for her to think I was easily frightened. What kind of man would I be then?

  “I’m just waiting for everyone to settle in. The night is still young, my friend. We have more than enough time to enjoy ourselves.” With this, he pulled out a beer and chugged the whole thing. Once he was done, he burped, running the back of his hand against his mouth, smudging his makeup even further. “Pardon me.”

  I could only imagine what the night would hold if Kirk decided to orchestrate the game while completely plastered.

  “Do you mind just starting the game? Some of us are getting a little impatient.”

  “And, who might that be?” Kirk asked, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two sisters. “Let me guess, the Queen of Hearts would like me beheaded.”

  “Something like that,” Ebony answered with a grin etched on her face as if the idea were amusing to her.

  Kirk laughed, his hand on his stomach. “To be honest, I always liked sweet Alice the best.” Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around Essie’s waist and reeled her into his body. His face was dangerously close to hers, their noses practically touching. He smiled wildly as his hand traveled to the small of her back, supporting her in a Latin dip. Her long hair brushed the floor as her blue eyes widened. “She was always so innocent and naïve…” he whispered, his lips practically trailing along her neck.

  As I watched the scene unfold, jealousy surged under my skin. Just seeing his hands on her body made me want to grab him by the collar and throw him across the room. But, through a great power of will, I managed to control myself, not wanting to make a big scene.

  “You know, I could teach you some things…” Kirk’s voice took a sensual tone as his head lowered toward her bosom.

  This was the breaking point for me. I grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him off her. “I think that’s enough.”

  “Hey, hey, hey, I don’t see you wearing a Batman costume for you to handle me so roughly.” Kirk straightened himself and smiled nonetheless. “But, I get it, you don’t want me to touch your girl. However, I suggest you figure out the difference between a raven and a writing desk before you get in too deep.” He winked, a mischievous look in his eye.

  “Just go start the damn game already, will you?” I snapped. I didn’t like how much he was toying with me. This was my party and, frankly, I wasn’t about to be the pawn in my own game.

  “Alright, alright.” He clapped his hands together and jumped onto the table, getting the attention of the crowd.

  Essie shuffled closer to me, wrapping herself around my arm. “What was all that about?” she asked in a hushed whisper. “Don’t tell me you were jealous…” I could tell by her tone that she was teasing me.

  “You’re a beautiful woman and I’d be damned if I allowed anyone other than myself to keep you for the night.” My arm snaked around her waist, pulling her against my body.

  “Oh, is that so?” She looked up at me with big, doe eyes that nearly made me take her right then and there. I never thought I’d meet a woman who was so breathtakingly beautiful. “I wonder, then, what you have in mind for me tonight.” She winked, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

  “Just you wait and see…” My hand slid down to her ass, squeezing it slightly.

  “Get a room you two,” Ebony interrupted. “I don’t want to see you two fondling each other in public.”

  Before Essie could snap at her sister, the lights dimmed, focusing on the wild figure standing on the table.

  Chapter 9

  ESSIE

  “Welcome, welcome! If you find yourself in this room, you are now part of my little game…” Kirk rubbed his hands together like the evil mastermind he was. “And… I hope you came to play.”

  The crowd gathered around him, hanging on his every word as his tone grew dark and mysterious. He leaned forward, reaching toward those on the edge like he was going to pluck them off their feet and dangle them like a marionette.

  “The goal of this room is to find something that symbolizes ‘birth’. You must be creative with your definition if you hope to win… Because you will find no newborn babies here… nor puppies… nor kittens.” He chuckled. “The correct object will be marked with a red dot on the back of it. Only one correct object exists in this room.” His voice took the deep, excited edge of a soccer commentator. “And, with that, let the games begin!” He clapped his hands, causing a boom to radiate through the room.

  The lights flicked back on, blinding me. I shielded my eyes for a moment, allowing them to adjust. When I looked back up, Kirk had disappeared from the table and was now cleaning his fingernails with the edge of a knife.

  People had scattered across the room, looking for the correct object.

  “Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more childish…” Ebony shook her head with disapproval. “A scavenger hunt, really?”

  Chris stepped up behind her, their bodies pressing together. “I agree, Allen, you’ve really dropped the ball on this one. I was expecting more from all the hype.”

  “You two are no fun,” I said, stepping forward, my hand on my hip. “And, I think you are just scared that Allen and I are going to find the item first!” I smirked, knowing my sister could become rather competitive, especially when someone challenged her.

  “Oh, is that so? We will just see about that!” She grabbed Chris by the arm and tugged him toward the other side of the room.

  I chuckled to myself, knowing she would work herself into a frenzy until she found it. “Come on, if my sister finds it first, I’m never going to hear the end of it.” I took Allen’s hand, our fingers locking together.

  A spark of electricity ran up my arm, coursing right through my heart. I gasped, taking in the air between my teeth. Our eyes locked as my chest hammered. The scavenger hunt was now the last thing on my mind. All I could focus on were his gorgeous brown eyes. It was as if the whole world had come to a standstill.

  We moved closer, chest to chest, hip to hip. My heart beat even harder.

  His hand cupped my cheek. At this point, our faces were so close that I could feel his hot breath on mine. They quivered in anticipation, already yearning for a sweet, sweet kiss. A part of me wondered why I was acting this way. Sure, I was one of the biggest flirts ever, but usually, I always pulled away before I could get too close. There was just something about this man that was… different.

  “You two will never win if you keep staring at each other like that.” Kirk appeared next us, rocking back and forth on his heels.

  “Get lost,” Allen grow
led, his hands on my hips, his fingers digging into my skin. “Can’t you see that we are in the middle of something?”

  “Yes, but you two should be playing the game.” He thrust his thumb in the direction of Ebony and Chris. “Those two are getting very close to figuring it out. You wouldn’t want to lose to your siblings, would you?”

  My need to surpass Ebony snapped me out of my lust-filled trance. Leaving Allen in my wake, I headed to the back of the room, trying to act nonchalant. I knew if my sister saw me, she would try to shoo me away.

  I studied the objects on the desk but none of them seemed connected to birth. Hmm, what could it be? I picked up the globe and turned it upside down, hoping for a miracle but there was no red dot to be found. Maybe the calendar… that has birthdays on it. I flipped through the pages but to no avail.

  “Any luck?” Allen asked, coming up behind me, his voice snaking into my ear and wrapping around my mind. God, he had such a sexy voice…

  “No…”

  “Here, let me help.” He started opening the drawers, rummaging through the various items that looked like they had been dumped there. “I hope Kirk has the intention to clean all this when he’s done…” he mumbled under his breath.

  As Allen searched the drawers, I got down on my hands and knees, thinking that maybe they had hidden the item underneath the desk. I patted the sides, looking for secret compartments but it seemed it was just a regular old desk.

  About to give up, I started to crawl out, only to bump heads with Allen. I lost my balance and fell forward, landing right on top of him. Again, the second our eyes locked the world seemed to stop. Our faces gravitated together like a couple of magnets.

  Without thinking about it, I closed my eyes and leaned forward, finally giving into the desire. As soon as our lips collided, my soul exploded with euphoria. I kissed him harder, feeling like I could never get enough of him. One simple taste and I was already addicted.

  He held me close, his tongue sneaking into my mouth and tangling with mine.

  I moaned softly, my back arching. Against my thigh, I could feel his hardening member. My lust was so great that I almost forgot that we were in a room filled with people. I was tempted to sneak my hand into his pants anyway…

  Allen was the first to break the kiss, holding my face in his hands. There was a sincere smile painted on his lips as he leaned forward, about to kiss me again.

  “I found it!”

  Chapter 10

  ALLEN

  The sudden exclamation ruined the moment. I sighed, getting up. I offered Essie a hand, keeping her close as we watched Heidi Klum holding up an ankh. All her jumping around caused her Jessica Rabbit boobs to jiggle every which way. I couldn’t understand how some men could enjoy humungous breasts. There came a point when they were simply obscene.

  Slyly, I snuck a peek at Essie. To me, she was the perfect size. Not too big, not too small. Perfect enough to fit in my hand, filling my palm. I could already imagine their silkiness, her perky little nipples. Oh, what I wouldn’t do to pinch them between my fingers, to hear her moan under her breath in ecstasy.

  “So you have!” Kirk waltzed up to her, stealing the Egyptian cross out of her hand. “In ancient times, this used to symbolize life.”

  “But, I thought the clue was birth,” Chris pointed out, a stickler for technicalities.

  “It was!” Kirk reeled around, holding the cross above his head like he was about to sacrifice it to the gods. “But, what is life without birth?” He grinned in triumph.

  “Do I win something?” Heidi asked, growing impatient.

  “Of course!” he bellowed, tossing the ankh necklace over her head. The pendant hung right between her breasts, causing almost every man in the room to ogle at her.

  “You think she’s dressed like that for attention?” Essie asked under her breath so no one else could hear.

  “No doubt about it. Can’t you see every guy in the room staring at her?”

  “You’re not,” she pointed out.

  “Well, why would I look at her when I already have the most beautiful woman in the world in my arms?”

  She blushed, about to say something when Kirk’s twirl of movement caught our attention. We looked up to find him balancing a bright red opera mask on his middle finger. He threw it into the air and caught the ribbon between two fingers before effortlessly tying it around Heidi’s head. “There you are, Madame. Now, you are one of the elite. Stick around and you’ll find fame and fortune at the end of our little game.” He winked before marching off to the door.

  It unlocked before him, as if by magic. Without an ounce of hesitation, he stepped into the darkness, disappearing from sight.

  “Do you think we should follow him?” Essie asked.

  “Of course we are going to follow them,” Ebony butted in. “Heidi got lucky with the ankh.”

  Essie smirked. “You’re just mad you lost. You’ve always been a sore loser.”

  “I’m not a sore loser.” She crossed her arms over her chest with a pout painting her face. “I’m just curious about what’s in the next room.”

  “I thought this was just a stupid, childish game.” I laid my head on Essie’s shoulder, a coy look on my face.

  Ebony’s pout just grew deeper as she pushed past me, barging into the other room. Chris shrugged, following after her.

  I watched them until they disappeared before I turned to Essie, taking her hand in mine. “What do you say we sneak out of here and have us some fun?” I trailed my fingers along her collarbone, enjoying the feeling of her soft skin. I nearly stripped her down right then and there but I controlled the impulse, knowing I’d have to wait for her to make the first move. It was the only way to make sure that fire that burned inside of me, burned inside of her as well.

  For now, I’d be patient.

  “Find the next item and you can do whatever you want with me…” She batted her eyelashes in mock innocence. Seeing her body shimmy closer to mine, trying to tempt me, was almost too much to ignore.

  My hands tightened around her hips. I wanted nothing more than to slam her against the wall and have my way with her… all night long.

  “And, you mean anything…?” I questioned, thinking the offer was too good to be true.

  “Anything,” she said, her voice as sweet as honey. Her hand was on my chest, just over my beating heart. I wondered if she could feel the effect she was having on me. No other woman had ever affected me in such a manner. “But, I suggest you hurry. Ebony and Chris have been in there for a while. You wouldn’t want them to find it first.”

  “Over my dead body.” I turned on my heels and charged into the room, determined to tear it upside down if I needed to.

  Just like the drawing room, this room had also been given a fresh coat of paint. The walls were a gentle lavender that made the dining room look even bigger than it was. I furrowed my brows together, wondering why Kirk and Gretchen had gone through so much effort. Were the colors of the walls significant to the game somehow?

  “Welcome,” Gretchen’s monotonous voice broke my train of thought. “Can I offer to make you a plate?” She gestured to the table. There, most of the guests were enjoying what looked like a feast. Roasted chickens, pork chops, stuffed pig, quail, and even octopus covered nearly every inch of the table’s surface. At the head of the table, Steve Harvey, dressed as a clown, tore into a chicken leg before someone cracked a joke and his iconic laughter echoed through the room.

  “Has the scavenger hunt started yet?”

  “Do you really think I would start without you?” Kirk slapped me on the back. “Go on, sit down, eat, relax, enjoy yourself! It’s Halloween. You’re allowed to be a glutton. I won’t tell.” He snickered, grabbing a fried green bean and popping it into his mouth.

  “Fine.”

  Essie came up behind me, her arms wrapping around my torso. She playfully nibbled my ear lobe, her soft hair tickling my cheek. “I guess you’ll
just have to wait…”

  “I don’t know if I can…” I turned, grabbed her by the hips and pulled her close. “You have no idea how badly I want you.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  I responded by trailing my hand up the slit of her dress. “If you’re not careful, I might just snap your panties right off… and you’ll have to play the rest of the game without them.” As I spoke, my lips lingered on her shoulder, pushing down the strap of her dress.

  “Mmm, tempting, but I’m going to have to pass.” She pushed me away, sitting beside her sister. Gretchen immediately made her plate, piling together a little bit of everything.

  Knowing I would truly have to wait, I joined her at the table. For the most part, everyone had settled down. Heidi Klum still wore her red mask, gloating about her victory.