"Oh yeah, so not drooling, right doll". Martin said, sending Tom a teasing grin as he walked past him. He walked over to the two women at the bar, introducing himself.
Tom felt like he could have used a cold shower right there, felt that he had embarrassed himself profoundly and he was sure she believed him to be some kind of retard.
Martin was talking with her and her friend, and he kind of wanted to walk over there, he wasn't normally shy, but he felt very much like a fish out of water here, he didn't know what to say. He ended up just standing there, feeling stupid.
"Hey come meet the others". Martin said, as he brought the two women over to were Tom and Ben stood.
Martin started the introduction, while he looked at the two women beside him. "This is Lulu and Soraya, girls, this is Ben and Tom".
"Well hallo there darlings, pleasure meeting you". Ben said, and smiled widely, kissing both womens hands, making them giggle. Tom thought he shouldn't be flirting like that, after all he had a wife and two kids at home. But he knew Ben, it was totally innocent.
Tom stepped up, taking Lulu's hand first, shaking it as he send her a friendly smile, he thought she looked like a fun girl. "Hi Lulu, a pleasure meeting you".
"Hi Tom, I have to be honest, I am actually quite a big fan of your work as Loki, you make him seem more than just evil". Lulu sid smiling.
Tom smiled happily, he started to feel more relaxed. "Well thank you darling, that is so nice of you to say".
She smiled and Tom turned to Soraya, taking her hand in his, he literally felt like he got a small shock and the way she stared at his hand, told him she had felt it too. "A pleasure meeting you Soraya, and I hope it isn't to much to say, but that is a very special and beautiful name, it fits you".
"Well thank you doll, ain't you a real charmer ?" Soraya sent him a sweet smile, she actually found him quite charming, even all blushing and nervous as he got then, and she wondered if it really was her having that effect on him, as far as she had heard he wasn't known to be tongue tied.
She noticed how hed looked at her and found it quite flattering, she wouldn't have thought she was his type, but he seemed to appreciate what he saw. He finally managed to answer. "Nah, I am mostly just being me".
"I would't pick you as a rock concert kind of guy, if it isn't to bold of me to say". She couldn't help asking, as she looked up at him, from hers 5'6 he looked damn tall and she found him even more handsome close up.
He chuckled lightly, she thought he had the most beautiful smile, it made his nose crinkle in the cutest way and hid eyes light up. "Well I guess you are right, even thogh I appreciate all kinds of music, but Martin had VIP tickets and it seemed like a great possibilitie for a guys night out".
"Well, I can promise you that you will be pulled in if you have 't seen them in concert before, they have such a great energy and Steven got the greatest voice". Soraya said, as she watched his tongue poke out, slowly wetting his pink lips.
Then he ran a big hand through his hair, it was a bit on the longer side, and his hand left it a mess of fluffed up curls. "Well, I am going to trust you on that and no matter what, I am going to have fun and enjoy the evening".
"To a great evening and loads of fun, and to new friends". Soraya said, lifting her beer, Tom's warm eyes looking into her eyes, it kind of made her catch her breath and she suddenly felt short of breath.
Everyone raised their glasses to and Ben said. "To great fun with friends new and old and maybe new unexpected connections".
They all went to sit down and Soraya ended sitting next to Tom, soon Lulu was deep in a conversation with Ben and Martin.
"So you use a stage name, does Kintana mean anything ?" Tom looked at her, he seemed like he actually was interested in her answer.
She had chosen to use a stage name to better be able to get into the expected persona, the rock star side of her. "Yeah it was easier that way. When I started I was told that my real name sounded to exotic, to middle-eastern, so I choose Kintana, it means star".
"It sounds cool and it is very fitting. I was actually told my full name was to long and heavy and I should short Thomas to Tom, Ben on the other hand was told his name would make him stand out, so guess it depends". He says with a shrug.
She smiled, she hadn't known he was actually called Thomas, it fitted him. "Yeah, it is appearently most a matter of personal preferences, I mean Ben's name is much more of a mouthful than yours".
They sat there talking about all and nothing until the warm up band came on, and Soraya felt herself getting drawn to him, he was easy to talk to. He was articulate and smart, with just a pinch of sass and flirt.