Love and Lies

The rhythmic thumping of the drums vibrated like a living pulse through the floor. The bright strobe lights illuminated the room with colorful flashes, beating in time with the pounding music blaring from the surround sound speakers. Sweat-laden bodies crowded the floor, sinuously moving together, touching, grinding, arousing.

After growing up in a small backwoods town where you couldn’t take a piss without someone noticing, you finally found a place that felt like you belonged: New York City. Here, no one faulted you for your aspirations, your dreams. You sat in your studio apartment half the day, painting confusing pieces of abstract artwork to express your feelings, and that was the way you liked it.

You swayed your hips to the left, then dipped down and pushed back, letting the music guide your movements. You could feel your boyfriend, Aaron, behind you, his hands firmly locked on your hips, your back flush to his hard chest. He was a real man, a ladies’ man, nothing like the 'stupid redneck hillbillies' you’d put up with growing up in North Carolina.

You closed your eyes, feeling Aaron’s hands move up your sides, and dropped your head forward, giving him access to your bare neck. His breath was warm, his wicked tongue even hotter. He whispered, “Can you feel how hard I am for you?”

“Katrina, we need to talk!”

You stopped moving, your eyes flying open. Joe, your fiery, redheaded roommate, stood in front of you with her hands on her hips, looking decidedly unhappy. The extra bite in her tone told you something wasn’t right. All traces of desire gone, you pulled away from Aaron. “What’s wrong?”