Don't Kiss Me Goodnight

Dating sucks. All the making small talk and trivial anecdotes used to impress each other. But, my brother is getting married and I'd rather bring a stand in than deal with all the appraising glances from his buddies or the nagging of my mother. At twenty- two you would think that she would want me to set myself up to be independent, but in truth she just wants to marry me off to the highest bidder. So, yeah, dating sucks and with my curved body, full lips, and bedroom eyes most people just want sex. I'm expected to be an accessory, no better than the finest watch.

So here I am standing in the dingy bathroom of my studio, dressed in a tule cocktail dress. Being five foot one and having natural curls, I look like a porcelain doll. Carefully applying my makeup so my forest eyes show brightly, I also add a cherry lipstick to compliment my fair skin. A touch of blush to my cheeks, brings out the rosy undertones and I can help myself when I say, "Don't over due it Audralynn, you want to catch a husband not look like a hooker," mimicking Mom's condescending effect.

Having married into money and status after my father passed, she is the definition of a gold digger and I am determined to be nothing like her. That's why I rent this crappy flat in a bad neighborhood, it's all I can afford on my own. Finally ready to face the music of this awful experience I am meeting my date an hour before the dinner so the awkward introductions are well out of the way. I grab my black clutch from the kitchen counter and lock up.

Trotting down the treacherous stairs, I make it to the entry of the building with out busting my face or putting my hand in some gross substance on the railing. Through the plexiglass door, I see the city coming to life and there is a cab by the curb waiting to whisk me away to meet Joshua Mathews, the kind of man my Mother would love. Mathews is an up and coming CEO with a severe case of megalomania but very handsome with blond hair and a strong jaw. Personally I don't care either way but this date isn't about finding love or even lust, it's keeping the wolves at bay.

The taxi drops me outside the venue for the rehearsal and I pay the man behind the wheel. Stepping out to meet my fate, I take a quick look at myself in the windows, sighing. This girl isn't me. I'm not the social butterfly, I'm a book worm, too smart for my own good my mother would say. Heart heavy, I walk into the restaurant and am greeted by a host directing me to the bar. Mathews stands as I approach, the embodiment of perfect manners.

With a kiss on my cheek he says, "Lovely to meet you, Audry."

This night is going to be bad if he can't even get my name right. "It's Audralynn actually."

Ignoring me he lays on the charm, "You look beautiful," he says staring directly at my chest. Gross, I shudder. I just need to get through this night and the dreaded wedding tomorrow.

"Thank you," I fix a fake smile on my face and sit in the chair the host has pulled out for me.

"I took the liberty of selecting the wine. I hope you don't mind."

I do mind but just shake my head agreeably. To be honest, I have never had a taste for wine, even the best glass of merlot tastes like bitter acid on my tongue. Joshua Is making small talk, mostly about himself, completely unaware that I have tuned him out. He just keeps going on and on, liking the sound of his own voice. I don't know why I thought this was a good idea and I'm just about to call it when I hear the faux accent from my mother.

"Audralynn, is that you darling," she says brightly, like she wouldn't recognize her own daughter. Probably because I'm with a man.

"Mother," I mouth at Mathews in warning.

He smiles tightly obviously not likeing that I interrupted his monologue, "Great," he says with a smarmy smile stuck on his face making my skin crawl.

"Mom," I say, standing I put my untouched glass on the bar.

She looks at it disapproving and I know it's because she thinks drinking wine is the highest form of class and my not liking it offends her. "Darling," she says patronizing me, "I'm so happy to see you. Steve and I have missed you."

Refusing to raise to the bait, I introduce Joshua to her as the rest of the guests, for tonights dinner, are gathering in a private banquet. My mother is beside herself with Mathews. She's surely already planning our wedding. Making my rounds I take Mathews to meet the whole family. An hour later we reach my brother, Thomas, and stop dead in my tracks. His best friend is standing with him and his gorgeous fiance Allison. Wren is a work of art in his tux, with suntanned skin and sexy as sin curls, tossed to one side, falling into his face. He looks even taller than his six feet in the suit. Regaining myself, I move forward and embrace my brother with the first real smile of the evening. Ignoring Wren, I also lean in and kiss both of Allison's cheeks before stepping back to Joshua's side.

Thomas says teasingly, "I see you've managed to find a date, all on your own."

"If you only knew," I toss back at him with a wink, "meet Joshua."

"I am extremely lucky," Mathews says practically eating me in front of my brother. I shiver with disgust when he puts his hand a little too low on my backside.

"Wren couldn't scrounge anyone up," Thomas replies, eyes widening at me in a silent 'seriously' as I am groped by my date.

Stepping away from his touch, I nearly crash into a waiter and inevitably meet Wren's hard stare when he says, "I didn't want to steal your thunder Bro," at Thomas, never taking his eyes from mine.

"More like you couldn't get a girl even if you tried," my brother quips.

"That really sucks," I find my voice, "it must be that ugly mug."

"If you want," Mathews interjects, "I can make a call and set you up." If all he has to do is call someone then why the hell did he come here.

Looking directly at me with hooded, honey colored eyes, Wren responds, "I already know who I want."

I flush scarlet and my now heated skin is prickling. The tension in that moment builds and builds as he continues to stare at me like we are the only two people in the room. I gasp when Mathews grabs my arm, breaking the spell.

"Audry," he says screwing up my name again, "We should be going," his voice is ice, staking his claim on me.

At a loss for what to say I wave goodbye to my brother and Allison before making my way through the opulent room.

"Your place or mine?" he asks, once outside.

"That's quite a leap you're making there," I snap.

Pulling me close, he kisses me before I can say no. Pushing hard against his chest he finally pulls me away from him spewing venom. "You're such a tease," he snaps, "if you weren't going to let me bed you then you shouldn't have led me on."

Exasperated, I just gape at him. I literally did nothing to lead him on, I even moved away when he touched me. He must be messed up in the head to think that is leading on. Ready to be done with him, I turn to storm away. Before I can take a step, he grabs me roughly turning me to face him. All I can focus on is my lipstick smeared around his mouth, it's like the glass of merlot from earlier stained his lips.

"No body walks away from me," he growls, icy, blue eyes raging with lust. I feel a frisson of fear. Before I can do anything, someone is at my back.

"Let her go," Wren demands. I can't see his face but if the hardness in his tone is anything to go by I don't think I want to see that kind of anger.

Pushing me away, I slam into Wren, nearly toppling to the ground as Joshua says, "Here you can have the little whore," stomping away to get in his flashy car.

Righting myself, I am mortified. Oh my god Wren, how am I ever going to face him again. I can still feel the angry heat radiating off of him while he watches Mathews car peel out and drive off, still holding me to his chest. Releasing his hold on me I dip my head in embarrassment and make a hasty good bye.

"Thanks Wren," I say and practically run up the sidewalk.

A strong hand grips my arm, halting my escape. Wren is there again and says, "Audralynn stop."

"I just want to go home," I explain to the boy that I have been in love with forever, my brother's best friend, and tonight my knight in shining armor. Holding back tears, I try to pull away again but he won't let me go. "Please," I plead, "just let me go home."

The look he gives me is so protective it breaks my heart. This is the one man I cannot have. "First tell me what the hell you were doing with that arse," he demands.

"I was having a really bad first date," I respond flippantly.

"Audralynn," he exhales my name like a curse.

"What Wren... What could you possibly have to say. I'm not a child and I don't need my brother's friend to swoop in and save me."

"Apparently you do," his temper flares.

Done, I turn on my heal to storm away again, deciding that if I can't get a cab the walk home won't kill me. As I'm thinking of the fastest route home so I can leave this humiliation behind Wren blocks my way.

"Audralynn what are you doing," he sounds incredulous.

"Walking," I spit out.

"You can't seriously think I'm going to let you walk home from here, Thomas would have my ass."

"Watch me," I mutter just loud enough for him to hear as I march away. Suddenly the whole world is tilting and my feet are no longer on the ground. Too shocked to scream I realize exactly what he's done.

"Put me down you oaf," I yell, trying to wiggle off the shoulder he tossed me over. We are in the restaurant parking lot now and I'm cursing like a sailor as he dumps me by his pickup.

"Get in," he growls, caging against the door with his long arms so I have nowhere to go. Caught in a battle of wills, his hand brushes my face in a gentle caress. Just like that the heat is back and I'm flushing all over again. He is so close to me everywhere I look he is there, everything I smell is him, all I can taste is the sweetness of our mingled exhales. He is everything and as he leans a little closer I move away from the fire in his eyes.

"We shouldn't," my voice firm despite my racing heart.

"I know," he sighs heavily, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

I place my hands on his chest feeling hard muscle under his white dress shirt, "Please let me go," I whisper between us gently pushing him away.

"I can at least give you a ride home," he says emphatically.

"Fine," I say, climbing into the truck thinking I really, really hate dating.