The Grace In Darkness by Melissa Andrea

over the right song. Good luck, ” he called as he walked away.
    “ Thanks, ” I muttered and turned back toward the piano.
    I figured I could practice some more even if I didn ’ t have the right music. I cracked my knuckles and placed my fingers over the keys. Without any warning, I was bombarded with images of the last time I ’ d been at a piano. I put no thought into it as my fingers began to move and music filled the dark room. As I lost myself in the melody, I was transferred to another time.
    “ Have you ever played before?”
    “ No, all my talent went into my feet.”
    I laughed, pulling her into my lap. I placed her fingers on the smooth keys and covered them.
    It was like I could feel her here with me. I was losing my mind. My fingers tripped over the notes I made up as I went, and the sounds matched my memory.
    “ Here, put your fingers over mine.”
    Her fingers moved over mine and her soft skin was a beautiful caress. Our fingers moved together as I played her song.
    The music flowed easily again, but I refused to play her song. I couldn ’ t handle it so I continued playing the unfamiliar notes.
    “ What song is this?”
    “ You like it?”
    “ It’s beautiful.”
    “ I wrote it.”
    She looked at me over her shoulder. “You wrote this?”
    My hands continued to play even though the song in my head stopped.
    “I wrote it for you to dance to. I’m thinking of calling it ‘Hummingbird.’ What do you think?”
    “ I think you’re nothing short of wonderful.”
    She leaned over and kissed my lips. I could sense her hesitation, but the minute her lips touched mine, it melted, and I lost all sense of reason.
    My hands were all over her at once and I was holding her mouth to mine as I devoured her.
    I could feel my fingers moving faster and faster against the keys. I knew the music was furious and loud, but I couldn ’ t hear it past my own memory.
    I stood up, pulling her against me, lifting her by the waist. The keys of the piano protested with an obnoxious sound.
    Past the sound of Araya’s breathing in my ear. Past the feel of her lips against my skin.
    I was between her legs, my hands wrapped around the underside of her thighs, pulling her against me. I could feel her heat all around me. She wanted it just as much as I did.
    I closed my eyes. It was my way of being with her again. I just needed to be close to her again.
    Bending her back over the piano, my lips found the hollow of her throat, trailing down the V of her dress.
    I made a strangled sound and my fingers slammed against the keys and it made a glaring sound. I was only torturing myself by doing this. I had to get her out of my head for now… maybe forever, but I didn ’ t know how to do that when she continued to haunt me.
    “ That was beautiful. ”
    I froze. I couldn ’ t breathe. My memories and reality had blurred and I was hearing things.
    “ I ’ m sorry. I didn ’ t mean to interrupt you, ” she said when I didn ’ t respond.
    I was afraid to turn around. Afraid it would all be a dream and the voice I thought I heard wasn ’ t real.
    “ They… they told me to bring this to you. ”
    My silence made her nervous and I was taken back again, back to the girl I ’ d met in the park. I heard the rustle of the paper and knew I had to turn around and find out or she was going to leave and I ’ d lose my chance.
    “ I ’ ll just leave it here. ”
    She took a slow step closer. It was dark in here and I knew it was probably hard for her to see. She placed the paper on top of the piano, and I could smell her. She turned to walk away and her scent swirled around me, and I couldn ’ t control myself. I turned toward her so fast that I startled her. She made a sound and her hand reached out, but before I could grab her, there was someone else at her side.
    “ Are you okay? ” he asked.
    I glared at leather-jacket boy who was holding my Araya in his arms and clenched my fists at my sides. I didn ’ t know who the hell