Chapter 5 Sunrise And Sunset

Adam

Hazel and I left the wedding after the party around midnight for our favorite club known as House 40, a popular club in town. As we approached, we could hear the loud music while the club sign cast a seductive glow over the entrance.

The bouncer at the door asked for our IDs, which I produced immediately and held onto Hazel because she was already tipsy. The bouncer scanned us both from head to toe with his walk-through metal detector. When he was done, he gave us two bangles for identification and opened the door for us to pass through, and we were immediately engulfed by the wave of sound and energy emanating from the inside.

The dance floor was packed with people moving as one, their bodies bathed in the pulsating lights. Haze and I joined the fray, losing ourselves in the music and the rhythm. I held onto her waist while she placed her hands on my shoulders and rocked me.

We danced for hours, our bodies moving in perfect sync as Hazel clung to me. She looked stoned with flushed cheeks, dilated pupils, and semi-parted lips.

I couldn't stop staring at her lips and wondering what it would feel like to taste them, but I valued our friendship more than my crazy attraction to my best friend. I was still lost in my daydream when Haze got on tiptoe and whispered some incoherent words to me while pointing to the bar.

I held her hand while we made our way to the bar. I dragged an empty seat for her to sit in and ordered a couple of drinks. We sat at the counter sipping our cocktails and watching the crowd. Haze turned to me and grinned.

"This is the best night ever Dee, you are so fun." She slurred.

"You said that last weekend." I smiled back.

"Whatever bitch" she responded and we both burst into laughter.

After some few shots, Hazel and I waltzed back to the dance floor and continued dancing.

I could feel the heat radiating from our bodies as we continued to move in perfect sync. I could not get enough of Hazel as her body swayed and twirled around me while her hands slid down my back. She had no idea what she was doing to me.

"You are perfect," I whispered in her ears.

"I can't hear you Dee". What did you say? She asked.

"I said that I'm having a great time, and I'm glad I came here with you.

"Me too". She slurred.

At about 3:00 am, we left the club exhausted but on top of the world. After waiting for what seemed like forever, we finally saw an empty cab that took us to my apartment.

My apartment was a bachelor's suite but cozy with a sparsely furnished living room. There was a black leather couch, a coffee table, and a 55-inch TV mounted on the wall with a few plants in the corners to add a touch of greenery, because the interior decor was my passion.

"Did you change something in your living room? A tipsy and tired Hazel asked.

"I only pushed back the couch to create more space," I replied.

"Looks good," she said.

Hazel made her way to the couch and collapsed on top of it. I walked to the couch and tried to adjust her sleeping posture, but she grabbed me by the neck and my step faltered, which caused me to land on her body.

"I had a really great time tonight," she said.

"Me too," I whispered.

I was so tempted for the umpteenth time that night to kiss her, but I decided against it. I picked her light form from the couch to my bed. I took off her shoes and laid her next to her, holding her close to me, and we fell asleep in each other's arms.

Hazel

There was a phone ringing incessantly somewhere in the house, but it felt like the sound was emanating from my head and at that moment I wished the phone would stop ringing. I was trying to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt like they were glued together. I finally pried my eyes open but the phone that sounded like mine kept ringing by my side. As my eyes adjusted, I realized I wasn't in my own bed. I felt for my phone and hit the answer button.

"Hazel, I have been calling you for hours now". Where the hell are you?

The caller yelling at the other end of the line sounded like my dad.

"Dad"?

"Where are you Hazel"? He inquired sternly.

I looked around, and my eyes landed on Adam, who was sprawled out on the other side of the bed with arms flying in all directions and legs tangled in mine but breathing steadily.

"Dad, I'm with Adam" I snorted.

"Why are you always with that boy? Are you both joined at the hip"?

In my mind, "Duh! More or less"

"Dad it's not even 8:00 am yet...why are you yelling"?

I heard a grunt on the phone before he said "I need you home ASAP. We need to talk."

"Is everything OK dad"?

"Just get home as soon as you can, Hazel," and the phone went dead.

"That went well". I rubbed my eyes and stretched, then looked over at Adam, who had somehow managed to roll to my side of the bed and wrap his arms around my stomach. As I looked at him fondly, everything that happened last night, from the wedding to the reception to coming back to Adam's place came crashing down, and I smiled at the memories. I vaguely remember being carried to bed by Adam.

I gave him a kiss on the cheeks and watched as his eyelids fluttered, and he peered at me and smiled.

"Good morning sleepy head", I smiled back.

"It's really a good morning with you in my bed, or should I call it a good morning? He smiled and touched his groin. I noticed he had a bulge in his pants. I smiled at myself.

"Stop playing Adam...I need to leave. I just received a call from dad, and he asked me to come home as soon as possible".

"Everything OK?" He asked, looking concerned.

"I'm not sure, he didn't say, but he didn't sound happy...I think he is overreacting as usual...don't worry". I touched his face and he leaned into my touch.

I stood up and noticed I was in Adam's polo...

"How did I get into this?" I pointed at my chest.

"With my help" he smirked.

I smiled and picked up my clothes, took off the polo shirt while he watched, and wore my clothes back.

"What are you staring at Dee?

"Your body is perfect Haze... I wish... I would drop you off", he stood up and started dressing.

A few minutes later, we were driving down to my home. When we got there, I looked out the window and noticed my dad sitting in his wheelchair and scowling at the porch.

"I smell trouble" Adam singed

"I hope not, '' I smiled. He pecked me on the lip and I stepped out to face my not-so-happy father.

William

I woke up the morning after the wedding party with the thought of Hazel in my mind, and it stayed with me throughout the day. I couldn't believe the little girl that followed me everywhere was now this almost perfectly beautiful woman. I am sure she did not remember me, but I still have lots of memories of us.

I remember how she idolized me and how my protective instincts resurfaced with a force I didn't know I had when we met at the wedding reception...only this time I was not only feeling protective of her, but I also desired her. She looked delicate but with a new-found maturity and poise.

I cannot forget the way she looked at me when our eyes met for the first time across the room...how the touch of her hand sent a jolt of electricity through my body because my whole body tingled, and I felt a connection I'd not felt in a long while. There was a hundred percent chance that she did not remember who I was...I mean it's been fifteen years since the last time we spoke, and I had changed in more ways than one.

Last night, my father had revealed why he called me home...he told me how he needed me to take over the company and learn the ropes as he grew older. He also told me I needed to be married, so I will be taken seriously even if it's for a short term. According to him, the marriage between the two families would serve two purposes.

I love my family and, as the firstborn, I had an obligation to it, whether it favored me or not, as long as it served a higher purpose.

I hate love and all the complications that come with it. I had vowed never to give anybody the power to hurt me again. I did not have a heart to give nor did I need one in return. I was not excited about getting married...I wish I had a second chance to meet with Hazel under normal circumstances, but in this case, I did not have a choice, and I was willing to go through with what was best for the family.

A knock on my office door jolted me back to reality...I thought my secretary had left like an hour ago...or did she forget something?

"Sarah? Are you still here? I thought..." The door opened and Emily walked in.

Emily and I had been best friends since we met at a club and had a one-night stand overseas which resulted in a series of affairs after. When my family summoned me home, she decided to tag along. She was dedicated and loyal to a fault...the only reason she left Czech was because she felt obligated to come back with me, or so she said, and ever since then she has been dropping in to check up on me almost every day...both at home and at work. I always wish she would call ahead before making an appearance.

"Hey darling" she strutted to me, sat on my lap and I couldn't help but indulge her because she was not just eye candy, but she exuded so much sex appeal that it was so hard to resist.

"Hey Bunny", I retorted and pushed her close to my chest while I breathed in her sweet scent.

"Oh my!!! You smell so good bunny", I inhaled

"Just the way you like it babe" she smiled seductively and traced her index finger gently on my face and then moved to my lips and I could not take it anymore...I needed to crush my lips to her perfect ones. I leaned in and captured her lips with mine in a searing kiss. She pressed her body against me, and it felt like my body was on fire, then an image of Hazel flashed through my mind and I took in a ragged breath. I pushed Emily away from my lap and the action took both of us unawares. Her hands instinctively held onto the table.

"Why? I thought you were into this...I mean you are spotting a hard-on right now" she looked and sounded annoyed.

"I am sorry babe...I have a lot on my mind...it's been a long day and I would love to go home." I apologized and picked up my phone to text my driver.

"I could drop you off?"

"Whatever" she retorted angrily and walked out of my office while I gathered some files I would need for the night and followed behind.