Sergei.
That fucking oxygen thief is on his last tank. But, Lilly’s friend or not, I keep my plans private.
“She’s scared.” I pour another drink for her and I. “But that’s because she doesn’t trust me. She will. And on this.” I hand her a shot glass. “We will have to agree to disagree.”
Ria looks at me a second and then downs her drink. My eyes land back on Lilly as I take my own shot. She’s waving goodbye and walking back toward the table. If only I could keep that look on her face forever. When our eyes meet, they don’t waiver from mine as she walks toward me.
“You know you’re up again soon,” Lilly says when she reaches the booth, and turns to face Ria, tapping her imaginary watch. “Ren’s not paying you a small fortune to get drunk.” She directs a smirk at me.
“Wait.” I turn to Ria. “How much is a small fortune?”
“Cheers for that by the way.” Ria winks, then hops up.
They both don’t answer me. Instead, Lilly takes Amari’s hand and pulls her up, heading down to the dancefloor for Ria’s next set.
After a short while, the lighting changes, and Ria starts playing her music. But my eyes don’t see anything other than my angel, and like the two other times in my life, I’m stuck in a trance as I watch the music take over her body. But this time, I’m not walking away. This time, the girl is mine.
24
Lilly
Thebassfromthespeakers pumps through my body, like an extra heart beating. Ria mixes tracks together like they’re a secret code just for me. Lyrics about letting go, being free, giving in, even if it is for one night.
I’ve danced since I was a little girl, it gave me a sense of peace and structure that I sorely missed growing up. And when I met Ria, it was like the perfect pair. She loved music and I loved to dance. I’m her biggest fan, and her first groupie.
The dance floor is packed, but still we carved out enough space to tear it up. Amari is wasted, good and proper, and it’s great to see her inhibitions melt away.
My body moves and comes to life, the music taking over me and I don’t want to be anywhere else but here, right now. It’s like a secret place where I can be completely myself, with no judgement, and no worries.
The sweat glistens on my skin, my hair is wild, and the music pounds in my ears, but that’s not the only reason my body is on fire. Every time I look up, I see Ren’s eyes on me, the hunger in them devouring me like I’m desperate to devour him. He’s surrounded by his men and the models Tommy has brought back to the table, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me. There’s no point denying it. I know I’m dancing just for him, and he knows it too.
My eyes close, imagining him in front of me, in an empty room, only the two of us. There’s a fire smouldering inside me, like I am burning up and the only one that can extinguish it is him.
After a few moments, I feel an unfamiliar pair of hands touch my hip. Immediately, I turn around to see who it is. A guy with an unsettling smile on his face stands behind me, but he doesn’t say anything. I turn back to face Amari and her friends, hoping it was an accident. The interruption snaps me out of my fantasy peep show for Ren, until his words come back to me
Can’t say if you were mine, I wouldn’t do the same.
That… I never want to see again. And no one deserves it just for trying to hit on me. It’s not right. So, I look up and hope Ren missed it.
No such luck. He sips his drink and watches me from a distance. When our eyes lock together, my heart skips a beat and heat travels to places that are hanging on by a thread. It’s like the world around us is black, and we have a secret language. There’s a boldness in his eyes, daring me to keep dancing, to forget everything else and give in to my desires.
I do.
I lose myself in the rhythm and the beat, letting go just like the music wants me to. Whatever happens tomorrow doesn’t matter. Just me, the music, Ren’s eyes, and the way he makes me feel drunk from lust.
Then it happens again, this time the guy's touch lasts a little longer.
This time, I turn around ready to give him the best advice of his life.
He smiles, a little crooked, his eyes glassy and his pupils blown out. “Hey gorgeous.”
There’s no time to beat around the bush, but also no point in being rude…. just yet.
I smile back and yell over the music. “I’m not sure if that was an accident. But I’m engaged and I’d appreciate it if you stop.”
He looks down to my hand, and back to me like he’s calling out my bullshit.
Either way, douche bag that means I’m not interested. Instead of stating the obvious, plus adding, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into, I simply say, “it’s getting resized! Geesh.”