Amelia

It's an understatement to say that I couldn't wait for Friday to come. There is no better way to run away your from problems, than hanging out with friends over a glass of wine. Or a bottle. Or two.

I've been trying not to crack my head too much in the last couple of days and not let the events that preceded it throw me off track too much. But I felt that a storm was brewing inside me and that its force would knock me off my feet. Eventually. Because everything that is suppressed, comes out under strong pressure, with a strong bang.

I was standing in front of the closet looking at what to wear tonight. Observing everything carefully, one dress persistently attracted my attention and drew me towards it. Narrow to the knee, black, with one strip diagonally over the shoulder. Black was my first color of choice these days.

When I received the notification that my taxi driver was in front of the building, I took one last look at my reflection in the mirror.

My thick, cascading hair fell over my shoulders while a burgundy lipstick complemented my lips with the necessary fullness, acting in synergy with the otherwise heavier make-up than I'm used to wearing.

I took my phone and keys and hurried so my friends wouldn't wait for me. Gabriel was adamant that we must not be late because the planned crowd was enormous.

And he was right. The line outside the entrance to Malicious was incredibly long. There was no end in sight to the column of chatty and well-dressed people, while the smell of strong perfumes swirled around them and mixed in circles.

Gabriel was waiting for us right behind the red tape, impatiently looking at the clock, nervously looking around.

"Finally!"

He exclaimed when he saw me, but then he noticed that I was going alone.

"Don't tell me you stood me up and Brooke won't come?"

He put his hands on his hips and furrowed his brows.

"If you knew her at all, like at all, you would know that she is never, ever on time."

I approached him and kissed him on the cheek.

"But your troubles can come to an end because I see her right now heading towards us."

In an ultra mini dress that accentuated the silky skin of her olive legs and long blonde hair, Brooke simply conquered the asphalt she stepped on with her high heels.

"Gab, close your mouth so you don't get your shoes wet."

I elbowed him lightly and he just looked at me angrily.

"I didn't drool. . ."

"Hey gorgeous, you didn't tell me that your friend will be here too. I thought we were going hunting alone."

Brooke addressed me with a raised eyebrow and a wide smile on her face.

"Pretty face, you know they don't serve espresso in the club, right?"

She addressed him and Gabriel's face turned all shades of red and burgundy. He opened his mouth to say something but I overtook him.

"Brooke, be good, it's thanks to Gabriel that we're here tonight."

"I'm sorry pretty face. C'mon people, lets get hammered."

She grabbed us both under the elbow and we headed for the entrance. Her open and cheerful character cheered up every situation.

The big guy at entrance immediately let us in without looking at the list when Gabriel said something in his ear. I'll try to remember later to ask him how he managed to get us in here in the first place.

It goes without saying that everything about this club exuded elegance and extravagance. As a child for the first time in a big city, I turned my head in all directions, unprepared for this level of luxury that combined the spaciousness of minimalism and the personality of maximalism.

As we made our way through the river of people, Gabriel signaled us to separate to the booths. Great job Gab. You exceeded yourself with this.

When we settled in the booth, there were a couple of corpulent men already sitting, I whispered on his ear with a silly wide smile.

"Who the fuck did you have to kill to get this reservation?"

"Enjoy pumpkin, you deserved it."

Brooke had already ordered us drinks and I was thinking whether I should tell her about the new situations now or maybe after a drink or two.

The happening behind our booth has already heated up, as we started toasting and laughing. It was laid back atmosphere with brutal hits blasting through the speakers. Everything about this night was electric. Both feeling and mood. I felt relieved.

With the people who were with us, apart from nodding at the beginning as a sign of greeting, we did not have any excessive interaction. They drank their whiskey with ice, looking serious and observant. It made me a little uncomfortable, but after a couple of bubbly drinks, that feeling evaporated along with the liquid in the empty glass.

Those three men got up at one point and gathered around a person who came to our booth. 

Drinking my wine, curiosity got the better of me and I waited to see who the fuss was about.

I almost choked when he appeared through the wall of people. Tall, striking, mystical.

The locks of his chocolate hair were casually tilted to the side, as if with one movement of his fingers he made them obey him like to a general. The black material of his tight shirt hugged all his muscles, refusing, at the cost of its life, to separate from the sculpted body that I had no need to see naked to know.

​I had no need. But I had a desire to do so.

But most of all, his gaze conquered and subjugated everyone before him. At the same time his eyes punished and gave pleasure, like a master in some twisted sado-maso game.

His gaze briefly met mine but after an almost imperceptible smirk, he focused on his pals.

"Gabrielle, do you see who is in the booth with us?"

I told him somewhat breathlessly and hastily, pulling his sleeve.

"Of course I know, sweetie."

He started laughing.

"He gave me this reservation as a thank you for everything we did. I thought you knew this was his club."

I nervously scratched my eyebrow, trying to hide my face with my palms because I wasn't sure what could be seen on it. And so much could have come to the surface.

"Come on gorgeous, the dance floor is screaming our name."

Already visibly tipsy, Brooke practically dragged me from our booth to the place where we merged with countless swaying bodies that moved to the music as if possessed.

I tried to relax and dance, but my eyes wandered to him without my permission. Occasionally our gazes would collide like titans and wouldn't last more than a few seconds.

Some feeling woke up in me and with all its force it wanted to break every barrier of my skin that had successfully held it in place for the time being. The alcohol slowly dulled my senses, but those feelings raged inside me and felt sharper than ever.

A couple of men approached us, some less, some more persistent, but none caught my attention or Brooke's. All my attention was laser-focused on the booth and I swore to myself that in moments I desperately wanted to obey everything primal that pleased me.

After some time we returned to the booth. Gabriel and I switched places and now he and Brooke started some kind of conversation where she was throwing her head back laughing and tears were literally streaming down her cheeks.

They must have been arranging some late midnight espressos. I thought and a small smile crept onto my face.

I looked up and through several layers of my greased eyelashes, his gaze was glued to me. His companions were telling him something, but he nodded to them and mummbled something, still  looking at me.

A burning sensation began to settle at the bottom of my stomach and began to spill further south. If this staring had lasted a little longer, my madness would have received an official diagnosis. It would be called after him.

That's why I tried to do what I know best. To regain control.

I stood up and made my way through the crowd to the bar. To be alone for a while.

"A glass of water, please."

The young waiter smiled sweetly at me, but not long after his smile faded and he put a glass of whiskey next to my glass of water.

"Sorry, you got it wrong, I only asked for water."

An arctic chill began to spread down my neck as his breath swirled around my skin. His hand brushed mine quite imperceptibly as he reached for his drink.

Every cell in my body knew it was him. And he was so damn sure that I will be sure of that too

"Miss Sammers."

I didn't even turn to look at him. I don't think I was ready for those looks to get their epilogue.

"Mr. Reese."

I addressed him without sparing him a glance, continuing to drink my water and not paying attention to him, which he didn't like. He came closer and whispered on my ear.

"You didn't pretend to be this hard-to-reach when you desperately flattered your lashes. Miss Sammers.''

I turned at the speed of light, looking him straight in the eyes. Did he just tell me that I was trying to desperately seduce him?

"Mr. Reese, I think you mixed things up. As far as I could tell, you didn't take your eyes off me. And not the other way around."

"I don't know why you think you might be the object of my interest Miss Sammers. The fact that you flirted with other men tonight does not mean that I could be one of them too."

His words awakened volcanoes of anger in me, but I didn't want to let it show.

"Do I hear jealousy in your voice Mr. Reese?"

He came dangerously close to me, his whiskey-soaked lips brushing against my cheek as they moved.

"Honey, jealousy is a sign of insecurity. I do not succumb to such primitive feelings. I can be animalistic. Raw. But never primitive. After all, you're too stiff for me, so don't get your hopes up. " 

"Stiff?"

"I saw you at the meeting. Eager to control everything, never able to relax. Thinks too much. "

Did this man come here just to humiliate me? If this is how his animal conquers, I don't want to be his prey. I stood up and spoke to him and then went to the booth.

"Let me see- I don't interest you so much BUT you got up and followed me here just to tell me that? Mhm, okay.  Now excuse me because my stiff and fine ass wants to leave this place. It's too much. . . how can I say. . .  Too raw for me."

I got close enough to him so that I could whisper in his ear, taking into account the big height difference and squeezed the last words out through my teeth, adding a little naughty tone. Fucking asshole.

Gabriel and Brooke had a full blown make up session. I bent down and just whispered in her ear that I was going home and not to worry. Without breaking their kiss, she just gave me a thumbs up.

It took me a good fifteen minutes to stagger to the exit. People were still waiting in front of the entrance and hoped to taste at least a little of the atmosphere that ignited the club. When I went out and separate myself from the crowd, breathing fresh night air, I experienced deja vu.

Next to the sidewalk in front of me was him. He was waiting for me. There was no other explanation.

Stiff you say? Thinking too much? Would such a person do this? Without thinking and with too much alcohol in my blood, I sttutered.

"Take me home."

I climbed onto the motorcycle and wrapped my arms around his torso. The coolness of his leather motorcycle suit worked like a magnet for me. My cheek was glued to his broad back and his blackness hugged me just like I needed it

The engine started and we drove off into the night.

What did I just do?