Just One Kiss

#graphic_violence

Among all the flushed faces, unkempt hair, and dry smells, there was one person who had caught Silas’ attention.

He spotted her earlier that night, tall, lean, and dancing under the harsh flashing lights. Her movements were graceful, like water lapping against sand, so easily able to get lost in the sway of her body, but Silas was more keen on studying how her muscles worked, noticeable and tensing at all the right angles. Silas wasn’t usually a fan of more toned features, soft and squishy skin easier to mold between his fingers, but this one was a hard exception.

She stood at the bar of the nightclub, shades of pink and blue flickering across highlighted tan skin. Silas couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful she was, almost as beautiful as the shot of gin she threw back with ease, her full lips brushing against the rim of the glass smooth and delicately.

Silas wondered what they’d feel like against his. Would they mesh together just as neatly? Probably not, he preferred it a little messy anyways.

The person came with a group of friends, but soon left after being demoted to third wheel, presumably taking out their feelings of loneliness or even jealousy in the form of alcohol. A good and a bad sign, but a sign that they were single. Even better.

Silas hoped this would work to his favor, but he could never get too cocky, rejection was always an option, but who could turn down someone as handsome as himself? Thick hair, pouty lips, and sharp eyes, he was a rather captivating fish in this pool of guppies—or maybe he was a hook, irresistible temptations with a deadly surprise.

Perhaps he should tone down on the self-talk in the mirrors before leaving the house. His lame jokes were getting to his ego now in the form of metaphors.

But, this was his chance, the single opening he had all night. Silas was confident, but his confidence only went so far. He was rather shy when among people he didn’t know, especially while flirting—and especially with his favorite trick that either got him a smile or a kiss. It never failed, his success rate one hundred percent, so the odds were looking good!—ah crap, the overconfidence, right. Tone that down.

Clearing his throat, he weaved his way through the crowd, pushing his way to stand beside the stunning girl leaning on the counter. He stared at the empty shot glass and then the person, admiring the shape of their jaw line and length of their lashes.

“Do you need another?” He asked, pointing towards the cup.

They barely turned to him, eyes dark and a little irritated. Maybe this wasn’t Silas’ chance. Maybe he picked the wrong one, a fish trying to wrangle a shark. He was relieved when she spoke.

“I could. Maybe two.” She said, pushing the glass off to the side.

“Hard night?”

They chuckled. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Silas couldn’t help himself as he gazed at the assorted jewelry hanging around the girl’s neck, accenting her prominent collarbones. She also wore many bracelets, her wrists dainty and petite.

Those would need to come off.

He had a few drinks, his mind swaying in not so decent directions, and mind attentive only on the person in front of him. Who could blame him though?

As the bartender made their rounds, they came to a halt in front of them. Asking for their order, Silas jumped in before the other could speak.

“Two of what she had. On me.” He said.

The bartender nodded, quickly pouring the shots and placing them down before leaving. The girl stared for a moment, but finally turned towards Silas, his heart skipping a beat. She was even more beautiful up close, round cheeks, button nose, and finely trimmed eyebrows; she was hitting all of Silas’ weak points. He was glad he came out tonight, even if this conversation ended in a way that neither wanted to.

The girl twirled her drink in hand, watching the clear liquid slosh around. “You’re a little better looking than the other people here. I’m surprised. I suppose I can entertain you. What’s your name?” she asked.

Oh, he was highly entertained. The show was right in front of him.

Silas gleamed at the compliment, his ego inflating even more. “It’s Silas and I could say the same about you. By far the prettiest person here.”

“Oh? That’s a first.” She laughed and Silas wondered what she meant, but the comment faded, “My name is Naomi, by the way.”

Naomi. The name rolled off his tongue exquisitely, just like he hoped she would, tasting like something only obtainable in a dream.

“Naomi? I like it.” Silas relaxed onto the counter top, “Why don’t we make your night a little better, Naomi?”

She raised a brow. “How is that?”

“With a game!” Silas said enthusiastically, making the other laugh again and almost spill their drink. She smiled bright and big, adorable dimples pinching her cheeks. He got a smile.

Check.

It never failed.

“A game? What kind of game?” Naomi asked.

“Oh it’s fun, you’ll love it. Trust me! Everyone does.” Silas grinned, wide and bright. “It’s a riddle! You have to guess what the answer is and if you don’t, then I get a kiss, but if you do then...you can have as many drinks on me as you want.”

Naomi licked her lips, a shiver traveling down Silas’ spine. How dare she tease him like this, and with a deviled smile to boot! How much cuter and more delectable could she get?

“Sounds promising!” Naomi raised her drink towards Silas, “I’ll give it a try. One kiss isn’t that much of a loss. Especially to someone like you.”

She winked, toasting Silas’ glass and both chugging their drinks. The burn felt good on his throat, but he wondered how good the burn would be when Naomi kissed him? He could only anticipate the fire that would blister inside him as he tasted those sweet, supple lips. They were probably soft, tender, almost like warmed marshmallows that melted against one’s tongue. It made him hot just thinking about it.

Slamming their cups on the counter, they both leaned towards each other, close enough that Silas could smell the perfume Naomi was wearing. A woodland spice kind of scent, earthy and organic, it wasn’t something he often picked up on women, but it suited her, her brown eyes deep and warm like fresh soil.

Silas felt a growl in his throat, but quickly swallowed it.

“Ok, here’s the riddle.” Silas said, happily ignoring the carnal instincts arising within him, “I live in the shadow of humans, rarely seen at day, and mostly at night. If you do see me, it will only be once. Hidden behind fake skinned masks and red eyes, what am I?”

Naomi pursed her lips, clicking her fingers against the counter. She was silent for a long moment, the vague song lyrics swirling in and out of focus, but Silas kept a smile on his face, watching as the workings of Naomi’s mind twitched across her face. She mumbled to herself several times, how cute, but each time she would shake her head and tell herself no, no that wasn’t the answer.

“Wow, this...is actually difficult.” Naomi said, furrowing her brow, “I’m usually good with these, but I have no idea what this one is.”

“Do you give up?” Silas teased.

Naomi huffed, making one final attempt to come up with a response, but she fell short, sighing. “I suppose I do. What’s the answer?”

They never got it. Another check.

Silas grew more excited.

He gently placed his hand over Naomi’s, leaning in close enough so his hot breath teased the surface of her skin. “Oh no sweetheart, you owe me a kiss first, but not here. Let’s step outside, I need a smoke anyways.”

Naomi gawked into Silas’ stare, frozen, but not with terror, she was actually quite relaxed judging from the feel of her fingers. She looked like she had wanted to take Silas’ lips right there, a flash of desire in her eyes as she visibly held her breath. Snapping out of her trance, she agreed to accompany him outside and into the chilly weather.

Walking out the door, Silas pulled his hood up, hating the cold, but hating the muggy atmosphere of the club even more.

It was a bit windy, leaves flying into the air and the smell of autumn strong, winter at the nip of its heels. Naomi crossed her arms, trembling from the icy wind, but Silas quickly put an arm around her, hugging her close. She didn’t seem to mind Silas being so friendly; in fact she leaned into him, snuggling against the crook of his neck. The alcohol must have been getting to her, her strides not entirely straight.

“You alright there?” Silas asked.

“I’m fine…” Naomi said.

Silas didn’t know how much she had to drink before talking to him, but judging from her behavior, she was somewhere above the tipsy line.

“You’re shivering, babe. Don’t worry, we’ll heat up soon. I just can’t smoke by the door.”

Silas locked eyes with the guard of the club, a small grin tugging on his lips as he eyed Naomi tailing along with him. He knew the guard well and he was probably congratulating him, but didn’t voice it—didn’t want to scare off his new date after all! He would definitely ask about the details later and Silas was willing to give him every juicy drop that he could, even though sharing wasn’t something he was particularly known for.

They rounded a corner, silent, no one in sight.

Finally. They were alone.

Finally, Silas could let loose.

He had restrained himself all night, the club driving him mad and his brain near breaking point. He quickly withdrew Naomi from his arms, pressing her against the wall, and Naomi didn’t resist, actually she gasped, the alcohol hitting her and her face tinting a beautiful pink.

The smell of her perfume drifted in the wind and directly to Silas’ nose.

His stomach rumbled fiercely.

Naomi laughed.

“Are you hungry?” She asked.

Silas felt his mouth water, staring at the shadows of her skin, the way the muscles of her neck moved as she swallowed and the heaving of her chest, all such beautiful...and delicious looking features.

“You have no idea, sweetheart.” He whispered, tilting Naomi’s head up, lips dreadfully close. “You wanna know the answer to the riddle?”

Naomi nodded, lost in Silas’ eyes.

Silas’ heart sped. He couldn’t wait.

“You see, there are many things in your world that you don’t know about. The riddle is simple, really. It’s something hidden in plain sight.” Silas kept talking as multiple shadows loomed behind him, wiggling like snakes against the wall. He felt Naomi tense under him, eyes wide as she stared at the waggling scaled tentacles protruding from Silas’ back, but it was too late.

There was nothing she could do now.

“Hidden in the shadow of humans are what your kind like to call ‘ghouls’. Humanoid creatures that prey on the flesh of mortals—“ Silas’ pupils faded to red, “and I’m one of them…”

Naomi’s mouth opened wide into a scream, but Silas silenced her, giving her the kiss he had won, and breathing in the scream like air. It was such a fragrant taste, a little bitter thanks to the alcohol, but Silas liked it real and raw, not buttered in lotion or other flowery lathers like some other ghouls he knew. He enjoyed the taste of fear and the sweat that tinted their skin as he told them what he really was, bringing to life the worst kind of nightmare for an unsuspecting human.

Biting into the skin of Naomi’s lip, blood surged from the wound, dark and thick, Silas ripping off a small piece. Flesh dangled from his mouth, him greedily slurping it up and gulping it down. It warmed his insides, a fire burning through him just like he expected it to.

Oh. God yes. More.

He wanted to sink his teeth into the human, tearing their face apart beyond recognition, but he couldn’t, not yet. His game still wasn’t done.

He let Naomi go, the crying and sobbing human immediately covering her awkwardly hanging lip, but Silas only thought it made her more attractive, the blood dripping down her neck. His heart flared against his chest while his mind fought with hunger and arousal.

Oh these games of cat and mouse were always so much fun!

Silas laughed, his lips blanketed with red.

“The game has only just started!” He said, “We still have a little game of tag to play! I’m it, and you…you should probably run.”

He told the truth when he said you’ll only see it once. He also told the truth when he said he’d make Naomi’s night better with a game—well…maybe the game was fun to Silas anyways.