He slammed on the brakes, abruptly pulling away from her, his hair tousled where her fingers had run through it.
“Whoa. I’m, uh…” he took a deep breath, touching her kiss-swollen lips with a gentle thumb. “I’m sorry, Lily. I got carried away. We should stop.”
Her languor disappeared instantly as she sat upright on the couch, fumbling to pull her top down again, a blush staining her cheeks.
“You don’t want me?”
“No! I mean, yes! I mean, I want you! Of course I do. It’s just, well, not like this. Not here.” She looked around the room, with its stain-spotted couch and peeling wallpaper. The place reeked of damp and mould and she’d wrinkled her nose as he’d led her in through the creaking front door. She’d tried not to touch anything, scared it might crumble into a pile of rubble on the dusty floor if she did.
“Then where?” Scanning his face, she watched a muscle jumping in his jaw as his eyes darted round the room, not settling on anything in particular, though he seemed to avoid focusing on the darkened doorway that led to the rest of the rundown apartment. “Ryan?”
“Huh? Oh, right! Your place?”
“Okay.”
The decision made, Ryan rose quickly to his feet, pulling her up with him and grabbing her handbag from the spot on the floor where she’d dropped it. He opened the front door and ushered her out into the hallway.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” He kissed her quickly and hurried back into the apartment leaving the door open behind him. Lily stood in the hallway, her head spinning with lust, and possibly, a little too much alcohol. Her girlfriends had dragged her to a club before deserting her and she’d met Ryan there after a few too many drinks. She wasn’t normally into one-night-stands, but there was something intriguing about him. A youthful sweetness she didn’t normally see in men. When he’d invited her back to his place, she’d eagerly agreed.
“I won’t do it! I like her. She’s different to the others. Pure, innocent. I’m done with this whole thing! Go find someone else to be your bait!” Yelling and a sudden clatter from inside the apartment had her spinning round to peer into the room.
“Ryan? Are you okay?” Silence. “Ryan?” Lily stepped into the apartment, a niggling thought telling her she should probably leave instead. She ignored it, heading towards the door at the opposite side of the room.
“Is everything okay? Can I help you with anything?” Nothing. She stopped outside the room, the hairs rising on the back of her neck. Taking a deep breath, Lily felt along the inside wall, cringing at the damp that settled on her fingertips as she found and flicked the light switch.
She blinked, taking in the scene in one quick glance. Two women held Ryan up by his arms, their eyes gleaming as he aged rapidly in front of her.
“Lily… run.” His eyes begged her forgiveness and then widened when she stepped into the room, throwing her handbag onto the floor. Hands on her hips, Lilith glared at her two girlfriends as Ryan sagged between them; old and decrepit, the light of sudden awareness leaving his dead gaze while she spoke.
“Dammit, girls! That youth was mine!”
Written for Rachel Poli’s prompt.
Chasing Dreams Publishing 